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Contributions

of the

American Entomological Institute

Volume 1, Number 1, 1964

THE NEOTROPIC DIPLAZONTINAE

(Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

CLEMENT E. DASCH

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No. 1. Dasch, Clement E. 1964. The Neotropic Diplazontinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumoni-

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Contributions

of the

American Entomological Institute

Volume 1, Number 1, 1964

THE NEOTROPIC DIPLAZONTINAE

(Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

‘CLEMENT E. DASCH

THE NEOTROPIC DIPLAZONTINAE

By Clement E. Dasch*

INTRODUCTION

The Diplazontinae is a subfamily of parasitic wasps of the family Ichneu-

monidae. They are chiefly parasites of the dipterous family Syrphidae, al-

though they are reported as bred occasionally from lepidopterous and coleop-

terous hosts.

This study deals with the subfamily as it occurs from the United States-

Mexican border to Tierra del Fuego of southern Chile. Within this extensive

area, the species are found primarily at higher elevations or at the more ©

Temperate latitudes of southern South America. The diplazontines of the Neo-

tropical Region are very poorly known. This paper is not intended as an ex-

haustive treatise of the species, but rather as a foundation for future work when

more extensive collections for the area become available. The fauna, as de-

tailed here, includes 5 genera and 52 species. Ten of these species also occur

in the Nearctic Region. | :

The specimens examined are in the collections of the California Academy

of Sciences (San Francisco, Calif.), Canadian National Collection (Ottawa,

Canada), Cornell University (Ithaca, N. Y.), R. R. Dreisbach (Midland,

Mich. ), Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.), H. K. Townes (Ann Arbor,

Mich.), University of California (Albany, Calif.), and U. S. National Museum

(Washington, D. C.). :

The anatomical terminology used in the paper is largely that of L. Smith

and R. Shenefelt (1956. Trans. Wisconsin Acad. Sci., Arts, Lett. 44:165-

219). In the measurements for new species, the holotypic measurement is

first given, followed by the range of paratypic measurements, where these

differ appreciably. The width of the face is taken at the narrowest point below

the antennal fossae. The height of the face is taken from the lower margin of

the antennal fossae to the tentorial pits. The hind ocellar-occipital carinal

line (abbreviated OOC) is the shortest distance from the posterior margin of a

hind ocellus to the occipital carina. The diameter of a hind ocellus (abbrevi-

ated HO) is the widest diameter of a hind ocellus. The width of the petiole is

the greatest width posterior to the spiracle; the length is taken from the base

to the posterior end of the medial region of the segment.

The Diplazontinae are distinguishable from other Ichneumonidae by the

following characteristics:

Length 4-12 mm.; head width 1.2-1.4x height; clypeus transverse, usually

lobed apically, distinct from face laterad of tentorial pits; mandible short and

stout, tridentate, the normal upper tooth being broadly subtruncate or bifid;

*Author’s address: Department of Biology, Muskingum College, New

Concord, Ohio.

2 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst. , vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

antenna filiform; flagellum 15-25 segmented; males often bearing tyloids on fla-

gellum; scape short, diagonally excised externally; epomia weakly developed;

notaulus present or lacking; prepectal carina usually complete; sternaulus shal-

low; propodeum often carinate; wing areolet present or lacking, when present

usually triangular; legs slender; two trochanters per leg; tibial spurs 1:2:2;

tarsal claws simple; abdomen sessile; abdominal segments 1-3 depressed,

variably compressed posteriorly; petiole deplanate, lateral margins subparal-

lel, its spiracles projecting and before the middle, a pair of dorsal longitudinal

carinae frequently present; petiolar sternum small, separated; exserted portion

of ovipositor short and slender. See figures 65-69 for the general habitus of

the subfamily.

The study was made in the Museum of Zoology of the University of Michigan

with the aid of a grant from the National Science Foundation. Special thanks

are due Dr. Henry K. Townes for his assistance in the preparation of this re-

port. Figures 65-69, showing the genotypes, were prepared by Kakuzo Yama-

zaki and. are republished from Dasch’s Ichneumon-flies of America North of

Mexico: 5. Subfamily Diplazontinae (1964: Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 3).

In addition to the species treated below, Tymmophorus graculus Grav.

was recorded as Mexican by Gibson and Carillo (1959. Lista de insectos en la

colleccion entomologica de la, oficina de estudios especiales, S. A. G., p. 12).

The present author has not seen this species from the Neotropic Region, so has

not included it. A description of T. graculus may be found in Dasch, 1964,

Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 3: 76.

Key to the Genera of

Neotropic Diplazontinae

1. Notaulus strongly defined on anterior mesoscutum as a distinct groove;

areglel ADSent . 6. oe ea 2

2. Spiracle of third abdominal segment dorsad of lateral suture; tyloids lack-

ing from male antenna; face shagreened; terga of anterior abdominal

segments usually with a transverse pesrnedian impression.

1. Diplazon (p. 3)

Spiracle of third abdominal segment ventrad of lateral suture; tyloids pre-

sent on male antenna; face polished; terga of abdominal segments without

a transverse impression .......... _... 4. Promethes (p. 54)

3. Spiracle of second abdominal segment ventrad of lateral suture; face usually

polished and bearing a pair of vertical depressions between clypeus and

antennal fossae; propodeum usually carinate. ... 5. Sussaba (p. 55)

Spiracle of Second abdominal segment dorsad of lateral suture; face usually

shagreened and lacking vertical depressions; propodeum usually not

Carimate <). eee ee eee ee eS ee a a 4

4. Clypeus usually apically lobed and often impressed along apical margin;

areolet usually present; tyloids present on male antenna (except in pre-

clarus); head, thorax, and abdomen variously sculptured

2. Homotropus (p. 19)

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 3

Clypeus truncate apically with a median vertical sulcus; areolet lacking;

tyloids lacking from male antenna; head, thorax, and abdomen evenly

shagreened and usually weakly punctate, or impunctate.

3. Syrphoctonus (p. 46)

I. Genus DIPLAZON

(Figure 69)

Bassus of authors, not of the genotype. :

Diplazon Nees, 1818. Nov. Acta Acad. Nat. Curios 9:292. Type: Ichneumon

laetatorius Fabricius. Designated by Viereck, 1914.

Length 4.1-9.4 mm.; head transverse, width 1.1-1.4x height; face width

1.65-2.3x height, usually shagreened and lightly punctate, occasionally more

polished; clypeus width 1. 7-2.3x height, apically lobed, shagreened, surface

flattened, separated from face by a definite suture, basal margin somewhat

elevated above level of face; 15-21, but usually 16 or 17 flagellar segments;

antenna usually much shorter than wing length, segments progressively short-

ened from basal to apical segment; sense cones of flagellum usually separated

by more than the width of a sense cone; length of first flagellar segment 2. 7-

5.2x greatest diameter; occipital carina usually narrowly rounded or somewhat

angulate medially; malar space 0.3-0. 7x basal width of mandible; female of

most species with pale inner orbital bars; thorax length 1.6-2.1x mesonotal

width, usually polished and punctate, more seldom shagreened; notaulus strong-

ly impressed on basal 0. 20-0. 25 of mesoscutum; prepectal carina complete ex-

cept in pectoratorius; sternaulus shallow; propodeum usually strongly carinate,

but weakly carinate in several species; wing lacking areolet; nervulus opposite

basal vein except in anoicus; nervellus broken below middle except in 7mplanus;

2 or 3, exceptionally 4 or 5 hamuli on costellan fold; hind tibia slightly shorter

than thorax length; inner spur on hind tibia 0. 35-0. 6x length of hind basitarsus;

hind tibia usually lacking setae on external surface; hind tibia black and white

banded; abdomen rounded dorsally and tapered apically, only occasionally com-

pressed in the female; caudal margin of each tergum transverse or slightly

convex; petiole in dorsal view varying from almost quadrate to rectangular,

length 1.0-1.9x width, usually bearing a pair of dorsal carinae; second and

third segments wider than long; epipleura distinct on segments 2, 3, and occa-

sionally base of 4; spiracles dorsad of lateral sutures in terga; length of ab-

domen 0.95-1.4x combined lengths of hind femur and tibia; transverse impres-

sions nearly always present on all or several of segments 1-4.

Twelve species from the region are included in Diplazon. Of these, laeta-

torius is cosmopolitan, pectoratorius has a Holarctic distribution, orbitalis

and scutellaris occur in the Nearctic region, and 8 species are newly described

here. |

Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Key to the Neotropic species of Diplazon

Females

(Females of pullatus and triangulus are unknown. )

MeSOpPlCUrUm MIATKeEC WIN PIOUS on a ee ak 2

MICS OOIGUT UIE reer es ee a ke Gk |

Hind tibia black at apex, white on remainder; hind basitarsus white on basal

half, black on apical half; petiole and propodeum weakly or not carinate;

transverse impressions weak or absent on abdominal segments 3-4.

11. pectoratorius Thunberg

Hind tibia black or rufous at base and apex, white on medial annulus; hind

basitarsus usually concolorous, dark brown or black, except in mulleolus;

petiole and propodeum usually strongly carinate; transverse impressions

weak or strong on abdominal segments 3-4.............. 3

Mesoscutum rufous; hind coxa and femur variously colored, but not rufous.

Hind coxa and femur mostly blackened; abdomen rounded above, gradually

narrowed apically; transverse impressions strong on abdominal segments

3 and 4; abdomen extensively punctate. 7. rufoscutatus, new species

Hind coxa cream; hind femur fuscous at base and apex, tawny medially;

abdomen strongly compressed from segment 5 to apex; transverse im-

pressions lacking on abdominal segments 3 and 4; abdomen shagreened

on basal segments and polished apically. 12. mulleolus, new species

Abdomen elongated and somewhat compressed; abdominal tergites with

weak transverse impressions, finely striate before the transverse im-

pressions; hind tibia rufous at base and apex; abdomen spotted with cream

at basal corners of segments 4-7 ...... 10. prolatus, new species

Abdomen not elongated, broadened at middle, then progressively narrowed

to apex; abdominal tergites 1-3 or 4 with deep transverse impressions,

coarsely striate or shagreened-punctate before the impressions; hind

tibia black at base and apex; abdomen spotted or banded on apical mar-

Sine OF LOveas rae Ao ee ee a A ee holy ae Ween 6

Abdominal tergites 2 and 3 shagreened-punctate before transverse impres-

StOUs; TiASeLIU TOUS re 5. scutellaris Cresson

Abdominal tergites 2 and 3 deeply striate before transverse impressions;

Tiaeellum black 92. es es 8 OSD IAnUS, New species

Transverse impressions of abdomen nearly lacking; dorsal carinae lacking

from petiole; hind coxa and femur largely blackened.

9. anolcus, new species

Transverse impressions of abdomen well developed; dorsal carinae strong

on petiole: hind coxa and femur rufous: . 2. oe eo ee a ee. 8

Abdominal terga shagreened and impunctate before transverse impressions;

mesoscutum very finely punctate; face shagreened and impunctate.

4. erugatus, new species

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 4)

Abdominal terga usually polished and punctate or somewhat rugulose before

- transverse impressions; mesoscutum coarsely punctate; face shagreened

i DICTA tars Fe ne ee ee a ae a ae ge 9

9. Abdominal terga 2-4 entirely or partially rufous; hind tibia tricolored, with

rufous at apex; mesosternal suture deep; orbital bar less than height of

eye; humeral bar not recurved ........ 1. laetatorius Fabricius

Abdominal terga black, spotted or banded with cream or rufous behind

transverse impressions; hind tibia bicolored, usually black at apex;

mesosternal suture shallow; orbital bar extending from top of eye into

malar space; humeral bar usually recurved. 2. orbitalis Cresson

Males

~ (Males of implanus and erugatus are unknown. )

1. Mesopleurum and often mesosternum largely rufous or cream-yellow. 2

Mesopleurum and mesosternum black, usually with a few yellow markings,

occasionally a narrow longitudinal stripe on mesopleurum ......

2. Hind tibia black at apex, white on remainder; hind basitarsus white on basal

half; petiole and propodeum weakly or not carinate; transverse impres-

sions weak or absent on abdominal segments 3-4.

11. pectoratorius Thunberg

Hind tibia black or rufous at base and apex, white on medial annulus; hind

basitarsus concolorous, dark brown or black, except in mulleolus;

petiole and propodeum usually carinate; transverse impressions weak or

strong on abdominal sempments S445 aii. wea ek ie ae Be 3

3. Meaedtubin rufous; hind coxa and femur variously colored, but not rufous.

4. Hind coxa and femur mostly blackened; abdomen heavily punctate; petiole

leoneth 22.25% Widths oy wee ie 7. rufoscutatus, new species

Hind coxa cream; hind femur fuscous at base and apex, tawny medially; ab-

domen shagreened, polished apically; petiole length 1. 6-1. 8x width.

12. mulleolus, new species ©

5. Abdominal terga 2 and 3 scabro-punctate before their transverse impres-

sions; face yellow; abdomen banded or spotted with yellow behind trans-

WETSCIMPVESELONS: Se a ce a 6. scutellaris Cresson

Abdominal terga 2 and 3 finely striate before their rather shallow trans-

verse impressions; face with wedge-shaped yellow orbital bars; abdomen

DIAC i Ge ae ek ies ee i es 10. prolatus, new species

6. Transverse impressions of abdomen nearly lacking; dorsal carinae lacking

from petiole; petiole length 1.9-2.0x width; propodeal carinae largely

PACKING ee et ee i 9. anolcus, new species

Transverse impressions of abdomen well developed; dorsal carinae strong

on petiole; petiole length 1.1-1.6x width; propodeal carinae usually well

COV GIOIIOG oi as i Gita ie Ry ee a i RE or BK COS 7

6 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

7. Hind coxa largely blackened; prepectus and mesopleurum black; transverse

impressions of abdomen usually shallow; upper tooth of mandible trun-

CAPO ed 8. pullatus, new species

Hind coxa rufous; prepectus cream or yellow, mesopleurum usually marked

with cream or yellow; transverse impressions of abdomen usually well

developed; upper tooth of mandible shallowly to deeply concave ... 8

8. Mesoscutum polished and nearly impunctate. 3. triangulus, new species

Mesoscutum polished and deeply punctate .............4... 9

9. Abdominal terga 2-4 entirely or partially rufous; hind tibia tricolored, with >

rufous at apex; mesosternal suture Pree, humeral bar not recurved.

1. laetatorius Fabricius

Abdominal terga black, spotted or banded with cream or rufous behind their

transverse impressions; hind tibia bicolored, usually black at apex; meso-

sternal suture shallow; humeral bar usually recurved. |

2. orbitalis Cresson

1. Diplazon laetatorius Fabricius

(Figures 1, 53, and 69)

Ichneumon laetatorius Fabricius, 1781. Spec. Insect. 1:424. [9]. Type: 9,

Germany (lost).

Ichneumon dichrous Schrank, 1781. Enum. Insect. Austr., p. 352. ‘‘o”’=9.

Type: 9, Austria (lost).

Ichneumon lituratorius Schrank, 1802. Fauna Boica 2:287. 9. Type: &,

Germany (lost).

Anomalon attractus Say, 1826. Boston Jour. Nat. Hist. 1:241. 9. Type: 9,

Indiana (destroyed). Neotype: ?, Dallas, Texas (Washington), designated

by Cushman and Gahan, 1921.

Bassus albovarius Wollaston, 1858. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. , ser. 3, 1:23. .¢'.

Type: o, Madeira (London?).

Bassus cinctipes Holmgren, 1868. Kongl. Sven. Fregat. Eugenies Resa 2: 409.

2. Type: 9, Cape of Good Hope (Stockholm ?).

Bassus neal Cresson, 1868. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 2:112. ©, 9.

Types: o, 9, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Illinois

(lost).

Bassus tripicticrus Walsh, 1873. Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis 3:85. oc, &.

Types: o, 9, ?Illinois (destroyed).

Scolobates varipes Smith, 1878. Trans. Ent. Soc. London 1878:3. 9. Type:

2, New Zealand (London). |

Bassus venustulus Saussure, 1890. In Grandidier: Hist. Phys., Nat. Politique

- de Madagascar, 20 (Hyménoptéres), part 1, pl. 15, fig. 23. Type: 9,

Madagascar (Paris?).

Bassus laetatorius var. terminalis Davis, 1895. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 22:

19. 9. Type: ¢, Washington (Philadelphia).

Bassus balearicus Kriechbaumer, 1895. Ann. Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat. 23: 246.

@. Type: 92, Mallorca Island (location of type unknown).

Bassus generosus Cameron, 1898. Mem. & Proc. Manchester Lit. Phil. Soc.

42:31. 9. Type: 9, Greymouth, New Zealand (London).

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae T

Bassus laetatorius tkitt Cheesman, 1936. Trans. Roy. Ent. Soc. London 85:

182. 2. Type: 9, New Hebrides Islands (London).

Biology: Cook, 1891. Ann. Rpt. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta. 4:132. - Metcalf, 1913.

Ohio Biol. Surv. Vol. 1, Bul. 1:50. - Moore, 1913. Agr. Jour. South

Africa 6: 490, fig. 11. - Kelly, 1914. Jour. Econ. Ent. 7:294. - Houser,

Guyton, & Lowry, 1917. Bul. Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta. 317: 80. - Voukasso-

vitch, 1925. Bul. Soc. Ent. France 1925:171. - Kamal, 1926. Jour. Econ.

Ent. 19: 724, 727. - Cushman, 1926. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 28:44. -

Heiss, 1938. Ill. Biol. Monog. 36, no. 1:19, 99, 100. - Scott, 1939. Ann.

Appl. Biol. 26:521, 522, 525; pl. 30, fig. 1. - Kamal, 1939. Tech. Scient.

Bul. Min. Agr. Egypt 207: 12-13, 26-31, 46-47, 50-51, 55; fig. 38-47, 92.

- Beirne, 1941. Trans. Soc. Brit. Ent. 7:159. - Weems, 1954. Ohio Jour.

Sci. 54:45-54. - Butler & Dasch, 1958. Arizona Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul.

135: 5-7.

Female: 4.2-6.7 mm.; head polished, lightly shagreened on face, deeply

punctate on face and frons, more finely on gena; OOC 1.4-1.5x HO; face width

1.9x height; clypeus width 1. 8-2.2x height, apical lobes weakly rounded with a

moderate median emargination, polished; malar space 0.4-0. 6x basal width of

mandible; upper tooth of mandible strongly bidentate; 15-17 flagellar segments;

flagellum covered with short inclined hairs; thorax polished, deeply punctate

except on speculum; mesosternal suture broad and rather deep; pleural carina

strong; propodeum with strong dorsal, petiolar and lateral carinae, basal and

lateral areas polished and punctate, petiolar area bearing strong V-shaped ca-

rinae and dendritic carinulae; 2-3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs stout; coxae

and femora polished and obscurely punctate; abdomen stout, rounded dorsally,

progressively narrowed from base of segment 4; petiole quadrate, length 1.0-

1.1x width, margins slightly divergent behind spiracles, polished and deeply

punctate, a pair of strong carinae arising at base, converging to middle, then

parallel to deep transverse impression at apical 0.25; transverse impression

crossed by numerous short longitudinal carinulae; segment 2 slightly wider

than long, a deep transverse impression at apical 0.3, deeply and closely punc-

tate before and more sparsely punctate behind impression; segment 3 with deep

transverse impression behind middle and on segment 4 at middle, both deeply

and closely punctate before and more smooth behind impression; rest of abdo-

men polished and obscurely punctate; epipleura distinct on segments 2 and 3,

sharply inflexed.

Black. Yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, inner orbital bar; flagellum

rufous; yellow on humeral bar, tegula, scutellum, postscutellum, tip of prono-

tal lobe, spot under each wing; wings dusky; legs largely rufous; hind tibia black

at base, then successively white banded, black banded, and rufous banded at a-

pex; black on hind tarsus; fore coxa often somewhat dusky; rufous on all or part

of petiole, usually all of segments 2 and 3, and base or all of 4; rufous ventral-

ly on segments 1-3.

Male: 4.5-5.7 mm.; face width 2.0-2.1x height; 16-18 flagellar segments;

hairs on flagellum short "and inclined dorsally, erect ventrally; oo length

1.1-1.2x width; abdomen more pubescent than in female.

Black. Yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space, inner or-

bit, scape and pedicel ventrally; rufous ventrally on flagellum: thorax as in fe-

male, but with yellow on most of proepisternum, prepectus, and a spot along

sternaulus; legs paler than in female, yellow on fore and middle coxae, all tro-

chanters, and anteriorly on fore femur and tibia; abdomen colored as in female,

rufous usually on segments 2-4.

8 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., Vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

D, laetatorius may be distinguished usually by the tricolored hind tibia, the

rufous coxae, the shiny and deeply punctate thorax and abdomen, the strong

transverse impressions of segments 1-4, the strongly carinate propodeum and

petiole, and the usually rufous median abdominal segments.

Specimens: 49, La Rioja, Argentina, E. Giacomelli (Ithaca). 29, Potreril-

los, Argentina (Ithaca). 9, Aconcagua, 5 miles north of Concon, Chile, Dec.

16, 1950, Ross & Michelbacher (San Francisco). 79, Angol, Chile, Dec. 31,

1950, and Jan. 1, 1951, Ross & Michelbacher (San Francisco). 9%, Angol, Chile,

Nov. 27, 1957, F. Ballejas (Dreisbach). 9, Bio Bio, 5 km. west of Tucapel,

Chile, Dec. 28, 1950, Ross & Michelbacher (San Francisco). 49, 20 km. north

of Concon, Valparaiso Province, Chile, Nov. 26, 1950, Ross & Michelbacher

(San Francisco). 92, La Balsa, 850 m., Cordillera Parral, Linares, Chile,

Feb. 25-27, 1956, L. Pena (Ottawa). 9, Los Maitenes, Santiago, Chile, Oct.

18, 1954, L. Pefia (Ottawa). 9, Mamina, Chile, Sept. 15, 1951, L. Pefia

(Ottawa). 9, Parca, Chile (Davis). 9, Aguascalientes, Mexico, June 26, 1952,

E. Gilbert & C. MacNeil (Albany, Calif.). 9, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico,

9,900 ft., March 3, 1959, H. & M. Evans and D. Anderson (Ithaca). 9, 10

miles north of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, 5,000 ft., July 13, 1959, H.

Evans (Ithaca). 9, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 5,000 ft., July 13, 1959,

H. Evans (Ithaca). 9, Puebla, Mexico, July 3, 1952, E. Gilbert & C. MacNeil

(Albany, Calif.). 22, Arequipa, Peru (Washington). 49, Callao, Peru, Nov.

16 and 17, 1950, Michelbacher & Ross (San Francisco). 9, Chosica, Peru

(Ithaca).

D. laetatorius has a cosmopolitan distribution.

2. Diplazon orbitalis Cresson

(Figure 2)

Bassus orbttalis Cresson, 1865. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. 4:272. 9. Type: 9,

Colorado (Philadelphia). :

Bassus cinctulus Cresson, 1878. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1878:357. o.

Type: o", California (Philadelphia). :

Biology: Kamal, 1926. Jour. Econ. Ent. 19:725, 728. - Kamal, 1939. Tech.

Scient. Serv. Bul. Min. of Agr. Egypt 207: 31, 46-47; fig. 48-53, 94. -

Butler & Dasch, 1958. Arizona Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul. 135: 6-7.

Female: 6.4-7.8 mm.; head shagreened on face, more polished on frons,

vertex and gena, all finely punctate; OOC 1.0-1.5x HO; clypeus width 1. 8-2. 2x

height, the apical lobes weakly rounded with a moderate median emargination,

polished; malar space 0.5x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible

deeply bidentate; 16-17 flagellar segments; thorax polished, deeply and close-

ly punctate, less so on speculum; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina

low; propodeum with strong dorsal, petiolar, and lateral carinae, basal

area polished and punctate, lateral area more rugulose, petiolar area rugu-

lose but more polished ventrally; 3-4 hamuli on costellan fold; coxae and fe-

mora polished and obscurely punctate; numerous setae on external face of hind

tibia; abdomen stout, rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed from base

of segment 4 to apex of abdomen; petiole quadrate, length 1.1-1.3x width, mar-

gins slightly divergent behind spiracles, rugulose, a pair of strong carinae

arising at base, converging to deep transverse impression at apical 0.2; seg-

ment 2 distinctly wider than long, a deep transverse impression at apical 0. 3,

polished, deeply and closely punctate before impression, less so behind; seg-

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 9

ment 3 with deep impression behind middle, sculptured like 2; segment 4 with

distinct impression at middle, deeply punctate before, impunctate behind; re-

mainder of abdomen polished and obscurely punctate; epipleura distinct on seg-

ments 2, 3, and base of 4, sharply inflexed.

Black. Cream-yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, inner orbit extending

onto vertex and malar space, often a median facial spot, humeral bar often re-

curved onto mesoscutum for 0.6+ of its length, tegula, scutellum, postscutel-

lum, tip of proepisternum, prepectus, tip of pronotal lobe, spot below ster-

naulus, mesepimeron, subtegular ridge; legs largely rufous, cream-yellow on

fore coxa, apically on middle coxa, fore and middle trochanters, anteriorly on

fore femur and tibia; white medial band on hind tibia, black at base and apex

and on hind tarsus; cream behind transverse impressions of segments 1-3,

sometimes 4, and basal corners of 4 and 5.

The coloring is exceedingly variable. Some of the patterns that occur in-

clude: orbital bar reduced; prepectus yellow ventrally; recurved humeral bar

interrupted or lacking; rufous or black behind transverse impressions on terga,

and white spotted on posterior corners of segments 2-4; face in part or com-

pletely cream-yellow.

Male: 5.0-6.4 mm.; face width 1. 8-1.9x height; clypeus width 2. 2-2. 3x

height; 16-18 flagellar segments; flagellum covered with a short pile; petiole

length 1.4-1.5x width.

Black. Similar to female but yellow on all of face, scape and pedicel ven-

trally, and more of mesosternum; legs paler, with cream on all of fore and

middle coxae, apex of hind coxa, and all trochanters; rufous behind transverse

impressions of segments 2-4 and apical margins of 5-7; yellow spotted at basal

corners of segments 4 and 5, apically on petiole and posterior corners of 2-4.

The male is also quite variable. Specimens often lack the recurved portion

of the humeral bar; the paler abdominal markings may be reduced; the rufous

of the abdomen sometimes covers all of segments 3 and 4; and occasional speci-

mens are cream banded behind the transverse impressions of segments 1-4.

Specimens: 92, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, at 5,500 ft., May 25, 1959,

H. Evans (Ithaca). 110, Distrito Federal, Mexico, Oct. 11, 1962, H. & M.

Townes (Townes). o, 15-20 miles west of Jiquilpan, Jalisco, Mexico, Nov.

30, 1948, H. Leech (San Francisco). 49, Michoacan between San Juan Par.

and Zirosto, Mexico, June 23, 1947, T. Hubbell (Ann Arbor). 9, Nombre de

Dios, Durango, Mexico, July 13, 1954, E. Schlinger (Albany, Calif.). 9, near

Puebla, Mexico, Oct. 15, 1962, H. Townes (Townes). o, Rio Frio, 55.5 km.

west of Mexico City, Mexico, Oct. 24, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). 3,

San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, at 7,500 ft., April 29, 1959, H.

Evans (Ithaca). 39, 40’, San Pedro Iturbide, 32+ km. west of Linares, Mexico,

Oct. 5, 6, and 26, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). co, Tuxpan, Mexico, at

6,000 ft., July 6, 1959, H. Evans (Ithaca). 9, Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico,

June 11-14, 1951, P. Hurd (Albany, Calif.). |

Diplazon orbitalis occurs in Mexico, and in the Canadian and Upper Austral

zones of the Nearctic region, west of 100° W. longitude.

10 | Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

3. Diplazon triangulus, new species

(Figure 3)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 4.6 mm. (3.8 mm.); head polished, lightly shagreened on face and

malar space, obscurely punctate on face and gena; gena not inflated; vertex

strongly impressed medially; occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1.5x HO;

face width 2.1x (1.9x) height, parallel margined; clypeus width 2.1x (2. 0x)

height, apical lobes rounded with a shallow median emargination, slightly up-

curved at apical margin, polished; malar space 0.5x (0. 6x) basal width of man-

dible; upper tooth of mandible shallowly concave; 17 (16) flagellar segments;

thorax polished and obscurely punctate except on speculum; prepectal carina

complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina low; propodeum bearing

moderately developed dorsal, lateral, and petiolar carinae, weakly roughened

on basal area, and with carinulae on petiolar area; 4 hamuli on costellan fold;

legs slender; coxae and femora polished; abdomen rounded dorsally, slightly

narrowed apically; petiole short rectangular, length 1.5x (1.4x) width, margins

slightly convergent behind spiracles, a pair of weak carinae arising at base and

fading out near middle, a weak transverse impression at apical 0.2, polished

between and coarsely punctate laterad of longitudinal carinae; segment 2 slight-

ly wider than long, a deep impression at apical 0.3, thyridia large and polished,

coarsely pitted before impression and polished behind; segment 3 with deep im-

pression at apical 0.4, sculptured as in segment 2; segment 4 with a moderate

impression near middle, sculptured as in segment 2; remainder of abdomen

mostly polished; pubescence abundant on abdomen; epipleura distinct on seg-

ments 2 and 3, inflexed.

Black. Cream-yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower 0.2 of gena,

clypeus, mandible, palpi, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, 2 elonga-

ted spots on mesoscutum, scutellum, postscutellum, most of proepisternum,

tip of pronotal lobe, prepectus, anterior mesosternum, longitudinal triangular

area on lower mesopleurum (enclosing a black central spot), subtegular ridge,

mesepimeron; legs mostly rufous; cream on fore and middle coxae, all tro-

chanters, anteriorly on fore and middle femora and tibiae; white annulus on

central 0.4+ of hind tibia; dusky rufous at base and apex of hind tibia, all of

hind tarsus; cream-yellow apical spots on segments 2-5, and apical margins of

segments 6 and 7. The face may have 2 black bands from clypeus to antennal

fossae; the yellow on the middle of the mesoscutum may be lacking and the scu-

tellum yellow only at the apex; and the yellow of the mesopleurum may be limi-

ted to a longitudinal stripe.

This species differs from orbitalis by its smaller size, the largely polished

mesoscutum and mesopleurum, and the coloration of the abdomen. It differs

from evugatus in the punctation of the abdominal segments and the color of the

hind tibia and tarsus.

Type: o, 15-20 miles west of Jiquilpan, Jalisco, Mexico, Nov. 30, 1948,

H. B. Leech (San Francisco).

Paratypes: o, same data as type (San Francisco). o, San Cristobal de las

Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, at 7,500 ft., May 2, 1959, H. Evans (Ithaca).

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae oot

4. Diplazon erugatus, new species

(Figure 4)

Female: 4.3 mm. (5.2 mm.); head shagreened, more polished on frons

and vertex, obscurely punctate on gena; gena not inflated; vertex shallowly im-

pressed medially; occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1.4x HO; face width

2.1x (2. 0x) height, slightly narrowed ventrally; clypeus width 2.1x height, api-

cal lobes angularly rounded with a moderate median emargination, slightly up-

curved at apical margin, polished; malar space 0. 6x (0. 7x) basal width of man-

dible; upper tooth of mandible shallowly concave; 17 (16) flagellar segments;

thorax polished, obscurely punctate except on speculum; notaulus deep on basal

0.25 of mesoscutum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow;

pleural carina low; propodeum bearing strong dorsal, lateral, and petiolar

carinae, basal area weakly wrinkled, petiolar area polished with a few weak

median carinulae; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender, coxae polished,

femora lightly shagreened, obscurely punctate; abdomen rounded dorsally,

gradually compressed from base of segment 4 to apex of abdomen; petiole quad-

rate, length 1.1x width, margins weakly divergent behind spiracles, a pair of

weak carinae arising at basal corners, convergent to middle and then become

obsolete, a deep transverse impression at apical 0.25, a series of longitudinal

carinulae in impression, shagreened-rugulose before impression and polished

behind; segment 2 wider than long, shagreened before transverse impression at

apical 0.3, polished behind; segment 3 with an impression at apical 0.4, sculp-

tured as in 3; segment 4 with an impression near middle, shagreened before

impression; remainder of abdomen polished; epipleura distinct on segments 2,

3, and base of 4, inflexed.

Black. Cream on inner orbit, malar space, middle of face (or this lacking),

clypeus, mandible, palpi, humeral bar, tegula, scutellum (or apex), postscutel-

lum, base of wings, tip of pronotal lobe, tip of proepisternum, subtegular ridge,

mesepimeron; legs largely rufous; cream on fore and middle coxae and all tro-

chanters; white annulus on middle 0. 4+ of hind tibia; fuscous at base and apex

of hind tibia and on hind tarsus; cream spots at basal corners of abdominal seg-

ment 4, apical corners of segments 2 and 3, and spiracles on segments 1-3.

The cream on the abdominal spiracles and apical corners may be reduced or

lacking.

Male: Unknown.

This species may be distinguished by the extensively polished thorax and

the even shagreening of the anterior abdominal segments. It is most closely

related to tviangulus. |

Type: 9, San Pedro Iturbide, 32+ km. west of Linares, Nuevo Leon,

Mexico, Oct. 26, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

Paratypes: 39, San Pedro Iturbide, 32+ km. west of Linares, ee Leon,

Mexico, Oct. 5 and 6, 1962, H. & M. Downes (Townes). 92, San Cristobal, 6

miles southeast of Chiapas, Mexico, March 31, 1953, R. Bechtel and E.

Schlinger (Albany, Calif. ).

5. Diplazon scutellaris Cresson

(Figure 5)

Bassus scutellavis Cresson, 1868. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 2:112. 9. Type:

2, Illinois (Philadelphia).

12 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Female: 6.3-7.0 mm.; head shagreened on face and malar space, polished

on frons and gena, all finely punctate; OOC 1.0-1.1x HO; face width 1. 7-1. 8x

height, parallel margined; clypeus width 1. 75-2. 2x height, apical lobes trun-

cate, meeting each other at a slight angle medially, lightly shagreened; malar

space 0.3-0.4x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible shallowly bi-

dentate; 15-17 flagellar segments; sense cones abundant, closer together than

the width of a cone, conspicuous; thorax polished, deeply and closely punctate

on mesoscutum, more obscurely punctate on rest of pleura and sternum,

smooth on speculum; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina low; propode- |

um bearing strong dorsal, petiolar, and lateral carinae, basal areas polished

and finely punctate, petiolar area covered with dendritic carinulae arising on

median line; 2-4 hamuli on costellan fold; legs stout; coxae and femora polished

and obscurely punctate; abdomen broad, rounded dorsally, progressively nar-

rowed from base of segment 3; petiole quadrate, length 1.1-1.2x width, mar-

gins slightly divergent behind spiracles, rugulose, a pair of strong submedian

carinae arising at base and converging to a deep transverse impression at api-

cal 0.2; segment 2 distinctly wider than long, a deep impression at apical 0. 3,

scabro-rugulose before impression, polished behind; segment 3 with impres-

sion behind middle, sculptured as in segment 2; segment 4 with distinct im-

pression at middle, polished and finely punctate before, polished behind; ahs

of abdomen polished; epipleura distinct on segments 2, 3, and base of 4,

flexed.

Black. Cream on clypeus, mandible, palpi, inner orbital bar, and median

facial spot; rufous on flagellum; cream on humeral bar, tegula, scutellum,

postscutellum, tip of pronotal lobe, spot under each wing, usually 2 submedian

spots on mesoscutum; rufous on lower 0.64 of mesopleurum, prepectus, meso-

sternum, metapleurum, and propodeum laterad of spiracle; legs largely rufous,

more cream on fore coxa and trochanters, and apices of fore and middle femo-

ra; white median band on hind tibia; black at apex of hind femur, base and apex

of hind tibia, and hind tarsus; cream medially on apical margin of petiole; spots

at apical corners of ail 2 and 3 and apical margins of all segments.

Male: 5.0-6.1 mm.; OOC 0. 8-1.0x HO; face width 1. 6-1. 9x height; cly-

peus width 2. 1x height; 16- 18 flagellar segments; flagellum covered with short

erect hairs ventrally, inclined dorsally; petiole length 1. 3-1. 5x width.

Black. Cream on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space, inner or-

_ bit, scape and pedicel ventrally; tawny ventrally on flagellum; thorax much as

in female, but also with cream on proepisternum, prepectus, anteriorly on

mesosternum, and along sternaulus; legs paler than in female, cream on fore

and middle coxae, all trochanters, anteriorly on fore and middle femora and

tibiae; cream at apex of petiole, apical corners of segments 2-4, basal cor-

ners of 4 and 5, and apical margins of 2-7.

Specimen: Q, 4 miles east of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, at 6, 000 ft. ,

June 6, 1959, H. Evans (Ithaca).

This species also occurs in the Canadian, Transition, Upper Austral and

Lower Austral zones of the Nearctic region.

6. Diplazon implanus, new species

(Figure 6)

Female: 7.2 mm.; head polished, lightly shagreened on face and malar

Space, coarsely punctate on face, more obscurely punctate on remainder of

head; gena not inflated; vertex not impressed medially; occipital carina rounded

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 13

medially; OOC 1.2x HO; face width 1. 7x height, slightly narrowed ventrally;

clypeus width 1.9x height, apical lobes angularly rounded with a moderate me-

dian emargination, slightly upcurved at apical margin, and lightly shagreened;

malar space 0.5x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible weakly con-

cave; 17 flagellar segments; thorax polished, closely and deeply punctate on

mesoscutum, obscurely on rest of thorax, polished on speculum; prepectal

carina complete; pleural carina weak; mesosternal suture shallow; propodeum

bearing strong dorsal, lateral, and petiolar carinae, polished and obscurely

punctate on basal area, strong median carinulae on petiolar area from which

arching carinulae pass to petiolar carinae; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; nervellus

broken at middle; legs moderately thickened; coxae and femora polished and ob-

scurely punctate; abdomen robust, rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed

from base of segment 3 to apex of abdomen; petiole quadrate, length 1. 2x width,

lateral margins divergent behind spiracles, posterior margin conspicuously

rounded medially, a pair of strong carinae arising at basal corners, convergent

to near middle of segment, then parallel to deep transverse impression at api-

cal 0.25, transverse impression arcuate, crossed by many strong longitudinal

carinulae; petiole mostly polished between carinae, more rugulose laterad of

carinae, a strong lateral carina above spiracle and a weaker sublateral carina

below spiracle; segment 2 wider than long, a deep transverse impression at

apical 0.25, a strong lateral carina above spiracle, basal margin deeply im-

pressed except at middle, coarsely longitudinally striate to impression, pol-

ished and coarsely punctate behind; segment 3 with deep transverse impression

at apical 0.4, a lateral carina from base‘to spiracle, surface sculptured as in

segment 2; segment 4 with a rather deep impression at apical 0.4, striate-rugu-

lose before impression; remainder of abdomen polished, pubescence short and

sparse; epipleura distinct on segments 2, 3, and 4, inflexed.

Black. Cream on wide orbital bar, clypeus, mandible, palpi except for 2

apical segments which are more fuscous; cream on recurved humeral bar inter-

rupted in middle of mesoscutum, tegula, scutellum, postscutellum, tip of pro-

notal lobe, subtegular ridge, mesepimeron, dorsal spot on prepectus; rufous

on lower 0. 7+ of mesopleurum, most of prepectus, mesosternum, and meta-

pleurum; legs largely rufous; cream on fore coxa and trochanters, anterior

stripe on fore femur and fore and middle tibiae; white annulus on central 0.4 of

hind tibia; fuscous at apex of hind femur, base and apex of hind tibia, and all

tarsi; wings somewhat dusky; cream at apical margin of petiole and abdominal

segments 4-7, posterior corners of segments 2-4.

Male: Unknown.

This species is characterized by the coarse striations of abdominal seg-

ments 2-4 and the rufous coloring of the thorax. It is most closely related to

D. scutellaris. !

Type: ¢, San Pedro Iturbide, 32+ km. west of Linares, Nuevo Leon,

Mexico, Oct. 6, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

7. Diplazon rufoscutatus, new species

(Figure 7)

Female: 6.1 mm. (3.7-5.8 mm.); head shagreened and abundantly punc-

tate on face, more polished on rest of head, all heavily punctate; gena not in-

flated; vertex deeply impressed medially; occipital carina rounded medially;

OOC 1. 4x (1. 3x) HO; face width 1. 7x (1. 9x) height, parallel margined; clypeus

14 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

width 1. 7x (1. 8x) height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median emargi-

nation, slightly upcurved at apical margin, lightly shagreened; malar space

0. 7x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible shallowly concave; 17

(18) flagellar segments; thorax polished, deeply and closely punctate, except

on speculum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural

carina low; propodeum with moderately developed dorsal carinae, weakly

developed lateral and petiolar carinae, polished and punctate on basal area,

more scabrous on petiolar area; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender, pol-

ished and obscurely punctate on coxae and femora; abdomen rounded dorsally,

progressively narrowed apically; petiole quadrate, length 1.0x width, a pair of

low carinae arising at base, converging to middle and then fading out, a deep

transverse impression at apical 0.25, punctate and scabrous; segment 2 much

- wider than long, a deep impression at apical 0.3, densely punctate; segment 3

with deep impression at apical 0.4, deeply and closely punctate; segments 4

and 5 with deep impressions near middle, deeply and abundantly punctate be-

fore, more sparsely behind impressions; abdomen covered with an abundant

short pubescence; epipleura distinct on abdominal segments 2 and 3, inflexed.

Black. Cream on orbital bar that touches clypeus, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, axillary sclerites; rufous on mesoscutum, tegula, scutellum, postscutellum,

most of pronotal lobe, upper 0.8 of mesopleurum, and prepectus; black on base

of fore coxa, basal half of middle and all of hind coxa, posterior stripe on fore

femur and tibia, middle femur except apex, middle tibia except anteriorly,

middle tarsus, hind femur, base and apex of hind tibia, and hind tarsus; cream

on remainder of legs, more tawny rufous on fore tarsus.

Male: 5.1-6.1 mm.; petiole length 1. 25x width.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, scape and pedicel ventrally; thorax and legs as in female, but

with cream on tip of proepisternum, and most of fore and middle coxae.

This species is readily recognized by the rufous color of the thorax, the

black and white markings of the legs, the weak carinae of the propodeum, the

deep transverse impressions of abdominal segments 1-5, and the sculpturing

of the abdomen. :

Type: 2, Cordillera de Lonquimay, Lago Galletue, Chile, Jan. 9-12, 1962,

L. Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: 9, Chiloe Island, Dalcahue, Chile, Jan. 17-Feb. 14, 1962, L.

Pena (Townes). o, Banos de Cauquenes, Chile, 1907, P. Herbst (Cambridge).

o, 9, Liucura, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 1-9, 1959, L. Pena (Ottawa).

8. Diplazon pullatus, new species

(Figure 8)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 5.5 mm. (4.6 mm.); head shagreened on face, polished and finely

punctate onfrons, gena, and vertex; gena not inflated; vertex strongly im-

pressed medially; occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1.1x (1. 0x) HO;

face width 2. 1x (1. 9x) height, parallel margined; clypeus width 2.1x height,

apical lobes rounded with a moderate median emargination, slightly upcurved

at apical margin, weakly shagreened; malar space 0. 6x (0. 4x) basal width of

mandible; upper tooth of mandible truncate; 17 (16) flagellar segments; thorax

polished, deeply and moderately punctate on mesoscutum, more finely on an-

terior and lower mesopleurum and mesosternum; prepectal carina complete;

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 15

mesosternal suture shallow; sternaulus broad and shallow; pleural carina very

weak; propodeum with moderately developed dorsal, lateral, and petiolar ca-

rinae, polished with shallow punctures on basal area and dendritic carinulae

on petiolar area; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora

polished and obscurely punctate; abdomen slender, progressively narrowed

apically; petiole short rectangular, length 1. 6x width, a pair of polished sub-

median dorsal carinae extending to weak transverse impression at apical 0. 2,

scabrous; segment 2 slightly wider than long, a weak impression at apical 0. 25,

shagreened and weakly scabrous before, more polished and weakly punctate be-

hind impression; segment 3 with weak impression near middle, sculptured as

in 2; segment 4 with very obscure impression near middle, sculptured as in 2;

rest of abdomen polished and obscurely punctate; abundant short pubescence on

abdomen; epipleura distinct on abdominal segments 2, 3, and basal 0.3 of 4,

inflexed; spiracle dorsad of suture on 2 and 3, posterior to end of suture on 4.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, tips of scutellum and

postscutellum, tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular ridge, upper half of mesepi-

meron; black at extreme bases of fore and middle coxae, basal 0. 6+ of hind

coxa, last tarsal segments of fore and middle legs, apex of hind femur, base

and apex of hind tibia, all of hind tarsus; yellow on rest of coxae, trochanters,

anteriorly on fore and middle femora and tibiae, narrow subbasal annulus on

middle tibia; white annulus on medial 0.45 (0.4) of hind tibia; rufous on rest of

legs; more dusky on middle tibia; yellow at basal corners of abdominal seg-

ments 4 and 5, orange-yellow at apical corners of segments 3 and 4, yellow

apical margin on segments 2-7.

This species is recognizable by the blackened hind coxa, weak transverse

impressions on the abdomen, the puncturing of the thorax, the scabrous abdo-

men, and the truncate upper tooth of the mandible.

Type: o, Hidalgo National Park, State of Mexico, Mexico, at 3,000 m.,

Oct. 12, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

Paratype: o, same data as type (Townes).

9. Diplazon anolcus, new species

(Figure 9)

Female: 4.4 mm.; head shagreened, more polished on frons and gena,

obscurely punctate on gena and vertex; gena weakly inflated; vertex strongly

impressed medially; occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1.4x HO; face

width 1. 8x height, parallel margined; clypeus width 2.2x height, apical lobes

angulate with a moderate median emargination, slightly upcurved at apical

margin, shagreened; malar space 0.5x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of

mandible shallowly concave; 17 flagellar segments; thorax polished, obscurely

punctate, lightly shagreened low on pronotum, proepisternum, and low on meta-

pleurum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture moderately deep; pleu-

ral carina strong; propodeum with partial transverse carina between basal and

petiolar areas, mostly shagreened; nervulus slightly basad of basal vein; 2

hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae polished, femora lightly sha-

greened and obscurely punctate; abdomen slender, rounded dorsally, progres-

sively narrowed from base of segment 4 to apex; petiole slender rectangular,

length 1. 7x width, shagreened, dorsal carinae and transverse impression

lacking; segment 2 slightly wider than long, shagreened, more polished near

16 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

apex, a faint transverse impression at apical 0.3; segment 3 shagreened on

basal 0.54; remainder of abdomen polished, covered with a short light pubes-

cence; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3, inflexed.

Black. Yellow on narrow inner orbital bar, clypeus, mandible, palpi,

humeral bar, scutellum, postscutellum, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular

ridge, upper end of mesepimeron, wing bases, fore and middle coxae, apical

0.54 of hind coxa, trochanters, anteriorly on fore and middle femora and tibiae,

and apex of hind femur; black on basal 0.5+ of hind coxa, hind femur except at

apex, base and apex of hind tibia, hind tarsus, posterior stripe on fore and

middle femora and tibiae; narrow white annulus on medial 0. 2+ of hind tibia;

most of remainder of fore and middle legs tawny rufous; yellow spots at basal

corners of abdominal segments 3-5 and posterior corners of segments 4-6.

Male: 4.2-4.4 mm.; face width 2.0-2.1x height; malar space 0. 7x basal

width of mandible; 17 flagellar segments; OOC 1.3-1.4x HO; petiole length 1.9-

2.0x width; abdomen more pubescent than in female; transverse carina of pro-

podeum lacking; transverse impressions of abdominal segments 2 and 3 almost

completely lacking.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, pedicel ventrally; thorax and legs colored as in female; yellow at apical

corners of abdominal segments 2, 3, and 4, and basal corners of segments 3

and 4.

This species is recognizable by the general lack of transverse impressions

and the even shagreening on the abdomen, the lack of carinae on the propodeum

and petiole, and the color of the legs and abdomen.

Type: 2, west slope of Popocatepetl, Mexico, at 10,000 ft., June 22, 1959,

H. Evans (Ithaca). :

Paratypes: 30°, 23 miles south of Toluca, Mexico, at 7,700 ft., Aug. 9,

1954, J. Chillcott (Ottawa).

10. Diplazon prolatus, new species

(Figure 10) |

Female: 6.7 mm. (7.1 mm.); head shiny shagreened, obscurely punctate

on vertex and gena; gena slightly inflated; vertex shallowly impressed medially;

occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1.1x HO; face width 1. 6x (1. 7x) height,

slightly narrowed ventrally; clypeus width 1. 7x (1. 9x) height, apical lobes angu-

late with a moderate median emargination, slightly upcurved at apical margin,

polished; malar space 0.5x (0. 4x) basal width of mandible; upper tooth of man-

dible oblique and weakly concave; 17 flagellar segments; thorax polished, finely

punctate on mesoscutum and pronotum; prepectal carina complete; pleural ca-

rina low; mesosternal suture shallow; propodeum bearing well developed dorsal,

lateral, and petiolar carinae, median vertical carinulae on petiolar area, re-

mainder polished; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora

polished, obscurely punctate on femora; abdomen slender and elongate, strong-

ly narrowed from base of segment 4, strongly compressed from segment 5 to

apex; petiole short rectangular, length 1. 5x (1. 6x) width, margins parallel be-

hind spiracles, weak carinae arising at basal corners, converging to near mid-

dle and then fading out, longitudinally finely striate, a weak transverse impres-

sion at apical 0.2; segment 2 slightly longer than wide, striate to strong trans-

verse impression at apical 0.3, polished behind impression; segment 3 striate

on basal 0.6 to shallow transverse impression; polished behind impression and

over remainder of abdomen; hairs on abdomen short and sparse.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae Oe

Black. Cream on short narrow inner orbital bar or the bar sometimes

reaching the clypeus, clypeus, mandible, palpi, humeral bar, tegula, bases of

wings, tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular ridge, mesepimeron, posterior spot on

scutellum, postscutellum; rufous on most of mesopleurum, small spot on pro-

notal lobe, metapleurum, ’ propodeum; legs largely rufous; cream on fore and

middle coxae and trochanters; white median annulus on hind tibia; more dusky

on base and apex of hind tibia, and on middle and hind tarsi; small cream spot

at basal corner of each of segments 4-6; rufous on lateral margin of petiole,

around spiracles of segments 2 and 3, and apical edges of segments 2-4,

Male: 5.2 mm.; face width 1. 85x height; OOC 1.0x HO; abdomen more

abundantly pubescent than in female.

Colored much as in female, but with wider inner orbital bar reaching to

clypeus; rufous of thorax more limited on mesopleurum and largely lacking

from propodeum; abdomen lacking rufous markings.

This species is distinguishable through the elongated abdomen, the stria-

tions of the first three abdominal segments, and the rufous markings of the

thorax. |

Type: 9, 185.5 km., Tuxtepec-Oaxaca Rd., Oaxaca, Mexico, at 2,200 m.,

Oct. 22, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

Paratypes: o’, 9, Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Sept. 28-Oct. 3, 1961, R. &

K. Dreisbach (Dreisbach). |

11. Diplazon pectoratorius Thunberg

(Figure 11)

Ichneumon pectoratorius Thunberg, 1822. Mém. Acad. Sci. St. Pétersbourg

8:280. of. Type: o, Sweden (Uppsala).

Ichneumon angustorius Thunberg, 1822. Mém. Acad. Sci. St. Pétersbourg 8:

280. 9. Type: 92, Sweden (Uppsala).

Bassus pectoratorius Gravenhorst, 1829. Ichneum. Europeae 3: Sou OS,

Types: o', 2, Germany (lost). Name preoccupied by Thunberg, 1822.

Bassus pulchripes Provancher, 1875. Nat. Canad. 7:143, 144. ‘‘o'’’=9.

Lectotype: 9, Quebec (Quebec).

Polysphincta pleuralis Provancher, 1875. Nat. Canad. 7:312. ‘‘o"’=9.

Type: 9, Quebec (Quebec).

Homocidus akaashii Uchida, 1931. Bul. Forest Exp. Stat. Gov. Gen. Chosen

12:24, 50. o. Type: 0, Kankio-hokudo, Korea (Sapporo).

Bassus urupensis Uchida, 1935. Insecta Mats. 9:118. o, 2. Type: g,

Tokotan, Kuriles (Sapporo).

Female: 7.3-9.4 mm.; head shagreened on face and malar space, more

polished on frons and gena, all finely punctate; OOC 1.4-1. 6x HO; face width

1. 8-1.9x height, parallel margined; clypeus width 2.1-2.2x height, apical lobes

angularly rounded with a moderate median emargination, lightly shagreened;

malar space 0. 35-0. 5x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible shallow -

ly bidentate; 17-19 flagellar segments, first segment length 4.0-4. 2x width;

flagellum covered with short inclined hairs; thorax polished, finely punctate ex-

cept posteriorly on mesopleurum; notaulus deep on basal 0.25 of mesoscutum;

mesosternal suture shallow; prepectal carina lacking ventrally; pleural carina

partially obsolete; propodeum usually lacking carinae, or weak petiolar carinae

present, basal and lateral areas polished and finely punctate, petiolar area

covered with vertical arcuate carinulae; 3-4 hamuli on costellan fold; legs

18 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

slender; coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; numerous setae on

external face of hind tibia; abdomen rather slender, rounded dorsally, progres-

sively narrowed from base of segment 4; petiole quadrate, length 1.0-1. 2x

width, margins slightly divergent behind spiracles, rugulose, a pair of indis-

tinct carinae arising at base, converging to middle, then parallel to a deep

transverse impression at apical 0.2; segment 2 slightly wider than long, usual-

ly a rather deep impression at apical 0.3, scabrous before impression, pol-

ished and punctate behind; segment 3 with indistinct impression behind middle,

sculptured as in 2; rest of abdomen polished or lightly shagreened, abundantly

but obscurely punctate: numerous short hairs distributed over surface; epipleu-

ra distinct on segments 2 and 3, inflexed.

Black. Cream on clypeus, mandible, palpi, and inner orbital bar; flagellum

occasionally tawny ventrally; cream on large humeral bar, tegula, apices of

scutellum and postscutellum, capillary lines between wings, tip of pronotal

lobe, and spot under each wing; rufous on prepectus, mesopleurum, mesoster-

num, usually metapleurum, scutellum, and more or less of mesoscutum; legs

rufous on middle and hind coxae and femora; tawny on fore coxa and femur;

white on all trochanters, fore and middle tibiae, fore tarsus, two basal seg-

ments of middle tarsus, apex of hind femur, hind tibia except apex, and basal

Q.5+ of hind basitarsus; black at apex of hind tibia, apex of hind basitarsus and

rest of hind tarsus, and a ee three segments of middle tarsus.

Male: 17.1-7. 4 mm.; OOC 1.1-1.4x HO; face width 2.0x height; clypeus

width 1. 8-2. 1x height; 18- 21 flagellar segments; flagellum covered with short

erect hairs ventrally, inclined dorsally; petiole length 1.3-1.6x width.

Black. Pale yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space, inner

orbit, antenna ventrally; thorax marked as in female, but with cream on pro-

episternum, more of pronotal lobe, prepectus, longitudinal stripe on meso-

pleurum, mesepimeron, laterally on scutellum; legs mostly as in female but

with middle coxa cream. } .

This species may be recognized by the color of the hind tibia and tarsus,

the absence of the prepectal carina ventrally, the weak propodeal carinae, the

transverse impressions weak or absent on abdominal segments 3 and 4, the ab-

domen usually scabrous and black dorsally, and the mesoscutum frequently

marked with rufous.

Specimens: o', 2, Hidalgo National Park, State of Mexico, Mexico, at

3,000 m., Oct. 12, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). )

This species occurs also in Eurasia and in the Hudsonian and Transition

zones of the Nearctic region.

12. Diplazon mulleolus, new species

(Figure 12)

Female: 6.3 mm. (6.4 mm.); head shiny shagreened, more polished on

frons, vertex, and gena; gena not inflated; vertex shallowly impressed medial-

ly; occipital carina narrowly rounded medially; OOC 0. 8x (0.'7x) HO; face

width 1. 8x height, slightly narrowed ventrally; clypeus width 2.3x height, api-

cal lobes angularly rounded with a shallow median emargination, slightly up-

curved at apical margin, weakly shagreened; malar space 0. 6x basal width of

mandible; upper tooth of mandible subtruncate; 16 flagellar segments; thorax

polished, finely punctate except on speculum and metapleurum; notaulus deep

on basal 0.2 of mesoscutum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture

Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964 19

shallow; pleural carina low; propodeum bearing strong dorsal, lateral, and

petiolar carinae, basal area polished, petiolar area broad and shagreened; 3

(2) hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender, coxae polished, femora obscurely

punctate; abdomen rather elongated, rounded dorsally, compressed from mid-

dle of segment 3, strongly compressed from segment 5 to apex of abdomen;

petiole short rectangular, length 1.3x width, margins divergent behind spira-

cles, a pair of moderately strong carinae arising at basal corners, convergent

to middle and then becoming obsolete, a deep transverse impression at apical

0.25, a series of longitudinal carinae in impression, shagreened medially and

more rugulose laterally; segment 2 wider than long, shagreened before deep

transverse impression at apical 0.3, polished behind; segment 3 lightly sha-

greened on basal 0.3; remainder of abdomen polished; epipleura distinct on

segment 2 and basal 0.7 of 3, inflexed.

Rufous. Cream on narrow inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible,

palpi, and pedicel ventrally; black on rest of head and antenna; yellow on hu-

meral bar, scutellum, postscutellum, proepisternum, tip of pronotal lobe,

ventral edge and posterior tip of pronotal lobe, ventrally on prepectus, tegula,

subtegular ridge, mesepimeron, spot on lower mesopleurum; legs cream on

coxae and trochanters; tawny on femora and fore and middle tibiae and tarsi;

fuscous on posterior stripes on fore and middle femora, dorsal stripes on fore

and middle tibiae, basal and apical rings on hind femur and tibia, and all of

hind tarsus; white median annulus on hind tibia and basal 0.3 of hind basitarsus;

small cream spots at apical corners of abdominal segments 2, 3, and 4, and

basal corners of segments 4-7; abdomen dusky rufous.

Male: 5.1-5.3 mm.; clypeus width 2.15-2.3x height; malar space 0.6- |

0. 7x basal width of mandible; OOC 0.9-1.0x HO; 17 flagellar segments; petiole

length 1. 6-1. 8x width; abdomen gradually tapered apically; transverse impres-

sion weakly indicated on segment 3.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, scutellum, postscutel-

lum, most of pronotum, proepisternum, subtegular ridge, prepectus, lower

0.5 of mesopleurum, and mesepimeron; rufous on mesoscutum except anterior-

ly, rest of mesopleurum, mesosternum, and metapleurum; legs as in female;

abdomen dusky rufous; yellow spots at apical corners of segments 2 and 3,

basal corners of sezments 2-6.

This species is distinguishable by the extensive rufous coloration of the

thorax and abdomen, the coloration of the legs, the elongation and compres-

sion of the female abdomen, and the short distance from the hind ocellus to

the occipital carina.

Type: 9, Nova Teutonia, 279 11’ S., 52° 23’ W., Brazil, at 300-500 m..,

Aug. 12, 1948, F. Plaumann (Ottawa).

Paratypes: 30°, 29, same locality as type, Aug. 9, 10, and 12, 1948,

F. Plaumann (Ottawa).

2. Genus HOMOTROPUS

(Figure 65)

Homotropus Foerster, 1868. Verh. Naturh. Ver. Preuss. Rheinlande 25:

162. Type: Bassus elegans Gravenhorst. Automatically selected by

Viereck, 1912, when designated as genotype for isogenotypic Homocidus.

Homoporus Thomson, 1890. Opusc. Ent. 14:1488. Lapsus for Homotropus.

Name preoccupied by Thomson, 1878.

20 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Homocidus Morley, 1911. Ichneumon. Brit. 4:87. New name for Homoporus

Thomson, 1890.

Length 3.5-10.2 mm. ; head transverse, width 1.15-1.50x height; face

width 1.5-2. 7x height, shagreened, usually punctate; clypeus width 1.5-2. 75x

height, basal margin level with face, indistinctly separated from the face by a

weak crease or more definitely by a suture, surface flattened or impressed a-

long apical margin, apical lobes well developed in most species; 17-25, usually

18-20, flagellar segments; antenna usually subequal to, or slightly shorter than

wing length; segments progressively shorter to apical segment; sense cones

usually separated by at least the width of a sense cone, but occasionally dense-

ly arranged; tyloids usually present on male antenna, variable; length of first

flagellar segment 3. 2-6.5x greatest diameter; occipital carina varying from

narrowly to broadly rounded medially; malar space 0.4-1.0x basal width of

mandible; female face seldom with yellow orbits; thorax length 1.6-2.1x width

of mesonotum, variously sculptured; notaulus lacking; sternaulus shallow; pro-

podeum usually lacking carinae or weakly carinate; wing usually possessing

areolet; nervulus opposite or distad of basal vein; nervellus usually broken be-

low middle, seldom at middle; 2-4, rarely 1 or 5, hamuli on costellan fold;

second abscissa of subdiscoideus varying from slightly to much shorter than

first abscissa; hind tibia slightly shorter than, or subequal to length of thorax,

its inner spur 0.35-0.58x length of hind basitarsus; hind tibia with few to many

setae on external surface; hind tibia varying in color from tawny-rufous to

black and white banded; abdomen rounded dorsally and tapered apically, only

occasionally strongly compressed; caudal margin of each tergum transverse

or slightly convex; petiole in dorsal view varying from almost quadrate to short

rectangular, dorsal carinae varying from strong to absent; second and third

segments usually wider than long; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and part of

3; Spiracle dorsad of lateral suture on segment 2, dorsal to, posterior to, or

ventral to suture on 3; length of abdomen 0. 8-1. 5x combined lengths of hind

femur and tibia; transverse impressions lacking from abdomen.

Key to the Neotropic species of Homotropus

Females

_ (Females of caluus, cuneatus, lissosoma, and trachysoma are unknown. )

1. Hind tibia black at base and apex with a white medial annulus...... 2

Hind tibia colored otherwise. . 2... 6) ./). «+ «4 ee SO era ge 5)

2. Thorax and propodeum rufous and cream; clypeus lacking apical lobes; ba-

sal vein straight; flagellum flattened and lacking sense cones ventrally on

Seeinents 10 tO ADEXK woe a ae ek aS 22. masoni, new species

Thorax and propodeum black and cream or yellow; clypeus with apical lobes

present; basal vein slightly curved; flagellum not flattened and not lacking

sense cones on segments 10 to apex ................44.. 3

3. Abdomen rufous on most of segment 2 to apex of abdomen; mesoscutum

evenly shagreened; malar space 0. 6x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.0x

POO eh Oe Oe Pe 13. interstinctus, new species

Abdomen black; mesoscutum polished and partially punctate; malar space

0.9-1.0x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.6-2.0x HO ......... 4

10.

12.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 21

Areolet present; face black with small medial yellow spot; humeral bar

short; femora rufous; spiracle of petiole anterior to middle of segment;

petiole length 12x Width Oo rs ee es 1. brevis, new species

Areolet lacking; face entirely cream; humeral bar long recurved; femora

black; spiracle of petiole at middle of segment; petiole length 1. 7x width.

11. preclarus, new species

Thorax extensively rufous; areolet lacking; abdomen elongated and com- ©

pressed from segment 2 to apex; flagellar segment one 8. 3x as long as

wide; thorax slender, length 2. 25x width of mesoscutum; clypeus apically

truncate and not impressed. ......... 17. dolichus, new species

Thorax not rufous; areolet present or absent; abdomen usually not elonga-

ted, but if so, then not compressed; flagellar segment one 4.0-5.4x as

long as wide; thorax broader, length 1. 6-1.9x width of mesoscutum; cly-

peus usually lobed and often impressed along apical margin ..... 6

Abdomen elongated, equal to fore wing length; ramellus present; legs ru-

fous; mesoscutum polished and heavily punctate.

18. macrogaster, new species

Abdomen much shorter than length of fore wing; ramellus lacking; legs

variously colored; mesoscutum variously sculptured. ........

PEPGOUEU IRENE OR oe a ee er a ga 8

APOCOlELDTOBENE he eR ee OR FS ee ee ae ee ee 10

Prepectal carina complete; inner orbital bar lacking.

| 14. pacificus Cresson

Prepectal carina lacking ventrally; inner orbital bar present. ..... 9

Abdomen black, terga of segments 2-5 spotted with cream at posterior

corners; hind coxa rufous; mesoscutum polished and abundantly punc-

TONG OG ae ate ee 10. maculifrons Cresson

Abdomen banded with black and rufous; hind coxa black and yellow; meso-

scutum evenly shagreened........ 12. mexicanus, new species

Yellow inner orbital bar present; abdomen rufous from segment 2 to apex.

Ne ae ge CPE a rl OP ee tat ea a care wire a tae lca aoe ae cere O

Mesoscutum polished, deeply and abundantly punctate; inner orbital bar

not extending into malar space; hind coxa usually rufous.

2. decoratus Cresson

Mesoscutum polished, obscurely punctate; inner orbital bar extending into

malar space; hind coxa black and yellow... 8. comptus, new species

Hind leg largely fuscous except paler at apex of femur and ventrally on

tibia at base; OOC 2.0-2.25x HO; malar space 0.5-0. 6x basal width of

WAAROTIG G0, bebe aia ae es pipe re Ge eee I ad 13

Hind leg variously colored, but not as above; OOC 1.4-1.6x HO (except

1.9-2.0x in stictonotus, but malar space then 0. 8-0. 9x basal width of

WARROTTO) i es a PE A es A 14

13.

14.

15.

16.

LT:

18.

Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Propodeum rugulose and shagreened on petiolar area; petiole shagreened

and finely striate; areolet sessile; humeral bar present; abdomen cream-

yellow on apical margins of segments 2-7; petiole length 1. 5x width.

19. alternatus, new species

Propodeum polished; petiole mostly polished; areolet petiolate; humeral

bar lacking; abdomen black dorsally; petiole length 1. 9x width.

20. furvus, new species

Mesoscutum polished, deeply and abundantly punctate. ......... 15

Mesoscutum shagreened and finely punctate, or polished and nearly im-

DUMECAES oi es ee 2 es 16

Abdomen black; coxae largely blackened; mesopleurum black; face width

1,9-2.0x Weight 2. 66 3. nigritarsus fuscitarsus Provancher

Abdomen rufous from segment 2 to apex; coxae yellow on most of fore and

middle coxa and apex of hind coxa; mesopleurum with a longitudinal

stripe on lower surface; face width 1. 6x height. |

Do. Yruficauda, new species

Abdomen largely yellow from segment 2 to apex; legs striped with black

and pale yellow; mesoscutum polished and nearly impunctate.

6. flavidus, new species

Abdomen and legs variously colored, but not as above; mesoscutum vari-

ously sculptured oy polished. « . 6. eT

Abdomen black; face black; mesoscutum and mesopleurum polished, sparse-_

ly and finely punctate: apical lobes of clypeus small.

16. chilensis, new species

Abdomen variously marked with rufous or yellow; face marked with yellow

medial spot; mesoscutum and mesopleurum shagreened, or if polished,

then abundantly punctate; apical lobes of clypeus rather well developed.

Oe a ee ak 18

Thorax shagreened and finely punctate; apex of abdomen dusky rufous;

malar space black; face width 1. 6-1. 7x height; OOC 1.9-2.0x HO.

4. stictonotus, new species

Thorax polished and obscurely punctate on mesoscutum, more abundantly

punctate and lightly shagreened on mesopleurum; abdomen rufous apical-

ly and yellow laterally; malar space more or less yellow; face width 2.0-

2.1% height; OOC 1,6x HO. :. 2s uae, 7. limbatus, new species

Males

(Males of alternatus, furvus, masoni, mexicanus,

_ dolichus, and macrogaster are unknown. )

Hind tibia black at base and apex with a white medial annulus. ..... 2

Hine. tibia. colored otherwise... 2 6 Se eS i ee ie eee. 4

Mesoscutum evenly shagreened; OOC 0.9x HO; mesosternum extensively

marked with Cream .. .....0.68. ou) saree 13. interstinctus, new species

Mesoscutum polished and partially punctate; OOC 1.5x HO; mesosternum

ERC ee eee bs 3

10.

11.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 23

Areolet present; humeral bar short; femora rufous; spiracle of petiole an-

terior to middle of segment; petiole length 1. 2x width; tyloids on flagellar

segments TTS ee ee ae, 1. brevis, new species

Areolet lacking; humeral bar long recurved; femora black; spiracle of

petiole at middle of segment; petiole length 1. 85x width; tyloids lacking.

11. preclarus, new species

Aréolet lacking 7) ee eee a ee ee 5)

Areolet present er ee ee 7

Mesoscutum polished and impunctate; propodeum with transverse carina

between basal and petiolar areas; occipital carina angulate medially.

21. lissosoma, new species

Mesoscutum polished and punctate or shagreened; propodeum lacking trans-

verse carina; occipital carina rounded medially ............ 6

Prepectal carina incomplete ventrally; abdomen black, terga spotted with

cream at apical corners; mesoscutum polished and deeply punctate;

sense cones on flagellum closer together than the width of a cone.

| 10. maculifrons Cresson

Prepectal carina complete; abdomen variously banded with rufous on medi-

al segments; mesoscutum evenly an ae sense cones separated by

more than the width of acone.......... 14. pacificus Cresson

Tyloids on flagellar segments 7-10; thorax polished and nearly impunctate;

flagellum longer than fore wing. ....... 15. calvus, new species

Tyloids on flagellar segments 6 or T- 13, 14, 15, or 16; thorax variously

sculptured, occasionally polished; flagellum shorter than, or subequal

to. teneth of tere wie ee a ee 8

Face black with wedge-shaped inner orbital bar present; apical margin of

clypeus nearly truncate; mesopleurum and sternum black. ...... 9

Face yellow, occasionally black capillary lines extending onto face from

antennal fossae; apical margin of clypeus usually lobed; mesopleurum,

sometimes sternum, and often abdomen marked with yellow or rufous.

2 ee ee ee ee Oe

Mesoscutum polished; abdomen extensively dusky yellow, marked with

DIdCK Spots 0 a a 6. flavidus, new species

Mesoscutum shagreened; abdomen black ... .9. cuneatus, new species

Mesoscutum heavily shagreened; yellow on lower mesopleurum, mesoster-

num, proepisternum, and pronotal lobe; abdomen black, yellow banded

basally on segments 3-95.05. 2. eee re a ee 11

Mesoscutum polished and punctate, or if shagreened, then the thorax and

abdomen not as aD0Ve 2) Ce ee Pe ee, 12

Mesoscutum mostly impunctate; humeral bar not recurved; scutellum

Hlack 2 ee ee ee aes, 16. chilensis, new species

Mesoscutum abundantly punctate; humeral bar long recurved; scutellum

marked extensively with yellow. .... 23. trachysoma, new species

24 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

12. Abdomen black or banded with yellow at basal margins of medial segments.

Abdomen variously marked with rufous or yellow, either laterally or

apically on segments, but not at basal margins ............ 14

13. Mesoscutum polished, deeply and abundantly punctate; abdomen yellow

banded or spotted at bases of abdominal segments 3-6.

3. nigritarsus fuscitarsus Provancher

Mesoscutum shagreened and finely punctate; abdomen black.

4. stictonotus, new species

14. Humeral bar not recurved; face went 1.6-1.9x height.

5. ruficauda, new species

Humeral bar long recurved usually; face width 2.15-2.3x height i WLS

15. Mesoscutum polished, deeply and abundantly punctate; mesopleurum pol-

ished and punctate; many setae on external face of hind tibia.

2. decoratus Cresson

Mesoscutum polished or lightly shagreened and lightly punctate; meso-

pleurum partly shagreened and finely punctate; few setae on external

iC OF UR CER, os ss ea te ae ter ee eres WE 16

16. OOC 1.3-1.45x HO; tyloids on flagellar segments 7-14; prepectus black;

abdominal terga yellow laterally from segment 2 to abdominal apex.

7. limbatus, new species

OOC 1. 8x HO; tyloids on flagellar segments 6-15; prepectus yellow; ab-

dominal terga black laterally from segment 2 to abdominal apex.

8. comptus, new species

1. Homotropus brevis, new species

(Figure 13)

Female: 4.6 mm. (3.9 mm.); head shagreened, more polished and ob-

scurely punctate on gena; occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1. 75x (1. 6x)

HO; frons medially sulcate before fore ocellus; face width 1. 7x (1. 8x) height;

clypeus separated from face by a weak crease, width 1. 85x height, apical

lobes rounded with a moderate median emargination, impressed along apical

margin, shagreened; malar space 1.0x (0. 9x) basal width of mandible; upper

tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 19 (18) flagellar segments; sense cones

separated by more than the width of a cone, conspicuous; hairs on flagellum

short and inclined; mesoscutum polished, finely punctate on basal 0.25; re-

mainder of thorax mostly polished, punctate on mesopleurum and mesoster-

num, with some light shagreen on pronotum and lower mesopleurum; prepec-

tal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina well defined;

propodeum mostly polished dorsally, roughly shagreened laterally, petiolar

area enclosed by several weak circular carinulae; areolet present, broadly

sessile, second intercubitus unpigmented; nervulus opposite basal vein; ner-

vellus broken below middle; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; lightly

shagreened and obscurely punctate on coxae and femora; no setae on external

face of hind tibia; abdomen narrowed from base of segment 4, rather strongly

compressed from segment 6 to apex; petiole length 1.2x width, shagreened and

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 25

finely striate medially, more rugulose laterally, margins divergent behind

spiracles; segment 2 wider than long, striate at base, medially shagreened,

and more polished at apex; segments 3 and 4 shagreened on basal 0.5, polished

on remainder of these segments and remainder of abdomen; epipleura distinct

on segment 2 and basal 0.6 of 3; spiracles dorsad of sutures; abdomen nearly

glabrous.

Black. Yellow on small median facial spot, clypeus except for dusky apical

lobes, palpi, anteriorly on tegula, subtegular ridge, spot posteriorly on lower

mesopleurum; fuscous posteriorly on tegula and on axillary sclerites; legs

largely rufous; black at base of fore coxa, most of middle and hind coxa, all

_ first trochanters; cream on remainder of coxae and trochanters, annulus me-

dially on hind tibia, and apex of each femur; dusky at base and apex of hind

tibia, dorsal stripe on fore and middle tibiae, all tarsi; cream on stigma dor-

sally and ventrally; reddish-brown at apical margins of abdominal segments 2,

3, and 4. :

Male: 3.7 mm. ; face width 1. 7x height; clypeus width 2.2x height; malar

space 0. 6x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.5x HO; 18 flagellar segments; ty-

loids on flagellar segments 7-13. |

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, scape ventrally; thorax and legs colored as in female, but with black of

fore and middle coxae limited to base; abdomen with pale basal margin on seg-

ments 4 and 5.

This species is recognizable by the banded hind tibia, black coxae, pol-

ished mesoscutum, and short petiole.

Type: 9, Laguna Amarga, Natales, Magallanes, Chile, Dec. 14-21, 1960,

L. Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: 9, Caramavida, Arunco, Chile, Feb. 10, 1953, L. Pena

(Ottawa). @, Hda Illapel, Coquimbo, Chile, Oct. 28, 1954, L. Pefia (Ottawa).

o, La Fusta, Cord. Lonquimay, Chile, Feb. 6-21, 1962, L. Pena (Townes).

2, Las Cabras, Chile, at 1,480 m., Dec. 10-23, 1954, L. Pena (Ottawa). 39,

La Leonora, O’Higgins, Chile, Dec. 28, 1954, L. Pefia (Ottawa). 30%, 19,

Liucura, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 1-9, 1959, L. Pefia (Ottawa). 29, Pichinahuel,

Cordillera Nahuelbuta, Arauco, Chile, at 1,100-1,400 m., Jan. 1-10 and 20-

28, 1959, L. Pena (Ottawa). 9, Port. de Puyehue, Osorno, Chile, March 13-

19, 1955, L. Pena (Ottawa).

2. Homotropus decoratus Cresson

(Figure 14)

Bassus decoratus Cresson, 1878. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1878:375. o&.

Type: o, California (Philadelphia).

Biology: Kamal, 1926. Jour. Econ. Ent. 19: 723, 727. - Kamal, 1939. Tech.

Scient. Serv. Bul. Min. Agr. Egypt 207:12, 23-35, 46-47, figs. 33-34,

91.

Female: 5.2-6.6 mm.; head shagreened and finely punctate, more pol-

ished on frons and gena; OOC 1. 50-1. 75x HO; face width 2.1-2.2x height; cly-

peus separated from face by a definite suture, width 1.9-2.6x height, apical

lobes weakly rounded with median emargination shallow, impressed laterally

on apical lobes, polished and punctate; malar space 0.6-0. 8x basal width of

mandible; upper tooth of mandible strongly bidentate; 19-21 flagellar seg-

ments, first segment length 3. 8-4.5x width; sense cones sparse on segment

26 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

one, inconspicuous; flagellum covered with a short erect pile; thorax polished,

closely and deeply punctate; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina low;

propodeum bearing complete lateral carinae, shagreened basally, petiolar area

vertically carinate medially, rugulose on rest; wing areolet small and rectangu-

lar, petiolate, second intercubitus unpigmented; 2-3 hamuli on costellan fold;

legs stout; coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; numerous strong

setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen rounded dorsally, widened to seg-

ment 3, progressively narrowed from base of segment 4 to apex of abdomen;

petiole stout, margins slightly divergent, length 1.1-1.3x width, shagreened,

striate laterally behind spiracle, a pair of carinae converging from base to

near middle; segment 2 wider than long, striate basally; rest of abdomen sha-

greened, more polished from segment 3 to apex; abdomen lightly pubescent;

epipleura distinct on segment 2, basal 0.8 of 3, inflexed; spiracles dorsad of

sutures.

Black. Yellow on clypeus but darkened on impressed areas; yellow on man-

dible, palpi, orbital bar widened ventrally, round median facial spot; rufous

ventrally on scape; yellow on humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, spot

under fore wing, mesepimeron, two spots or a band apically on scutellum,

capillary lines between wings; legs largely rufous; dusky rufous on hind tibia

and tarsus; yellow on fore and middle coxae; blackened basally and internally

on fore and middle coxae; abdomen rufous, black on most of segment one and

at apex of abdomen. Occasional specimens tend to have the black extending on-

to segment 2 and spreading anteriorly on segments 4 and 5. These specimens

usually show a partial infuscation of the hind coxa.

Male: 5.2-7.2 mm.; OOC 1.5-1. 7x HO; face width 2.2x height; clypeus

width 2. 3-2.4x height, truncate apically, median emargination lacking, weakly

impressed apically, polished and impunctate; 19-22 flagellar segments; tyloids

on segments 6 or 7 to 14 or 15; hairs of flagellum short and erect; abdomen

slender; petiole length 1. 4x width: abdomen strongly pubescent.

Black. Bright yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space,

inner orbit, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar recurved to middle of

mesoscutum, widened at end of band, all or part of scutellum, proepisternum,

tip of pronotal lobe, spot under fore wing, mesepimeron, prepectus, narrow

longitudinal stripe on mesopleurum, a short line internal to sternaulus; legs as

in female, but with more yellow on all coxae apically; black basally and inter-

nally on all coxae, first hind trochanter; rufous on apical half of abdominal seg-

ment 2, all of 3, apically or all of 4 and 5; yellow at base of each of segments

3-5; rufous ventrally. In some specimens the abdomen of the male is some-

times heavily blackened so that only the apical margins of segments 2-6 are

rufous and the coxae are more extensively blackened than usual. Very rarely

the recurved portion of the humeral bar is lacking.

Specimen: do’, Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico, April 2, 1939, C.

Michener (San Francisco}.

This species occurs along the west coast of North America from Baja

California to southern British Columbia.

3. Homotropus nigritarsus fuscitarsus Provancher

(Figure 15)

Tryphon humeralis Provancher, 1875. Nat. Canad. 7:116. ‘‘9’’=c". Lecto-

type: o, Quebec (Quebec).

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 27

Bassus fuscitarsus Provancher, 1875. Nat. Canad. 7:143. ‘‘o"’’=9. Lecto-

type: ¢, Quebec (Quebec). :

Biology: Kamal, 1926. Jour. Econ. Ent. 19:723, 727. - Heiss, 1938. Ill.

Biol. Monog. 36 (1): 99-100. - Kamal, 1939. Tech. Scient. Serv. Bul.

Min. Agr. Egypt 207: 25-26, 47, 54, fig. 35-37, 96. - Butler & Dasch,

1958. Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul. 135: 8.

Female: 4.6-6.2 mm.; head dull shagreened, finely punctate; OOC 1. 4-

1.6x HO; face width 1.9-2.0x height; clypeus separated from face by a weak

crease, width 1.9-2.3x height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median

emargination, strongly impressed on apical lobes, polished and impunctate;

malar space 0.7-0.9x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible distinct-

ly bidentate; 18-20 flagellar segments; sense cones sparse on segment one;

flagellum covered with a very short sparse pile; thorax polished, deeply and

abundantly punctate, lightly shagreened on pronotal lobe, usually mesopleurum,

except on speculum; metapleurum more scabrous; mesosternal suture shallow;

pleural carina indistinct; propodeum with complete lateral carina, shagreened

basally, rugulose on petiolar area; wing areolet rectangular, sessile, second

intercubitus unpigmented; 2-3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and

femora polished and obscurely punctate; numerous strong setae on external

face of hind tibia; abdomen rounded, progressively narrowed from base of seg-

ment 4; petiole rectangular, margins weakly divergent behind spiracles, length

1.3-1.4x width, shagreened, short carinae from base to behind spiracles; seg-

ment 2 wider than long, striate basally and laterally; rest of abdomen sha-

greened, more polished apically; sparse pubescence on abdomen; epipleura

distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.7 of 3, inflexed; spiracles dorsad of lateral

sutures.

Black. Bright yellow on clypeus, mandible, round median spot on face;

dusky yellow on palpi; yellow on humeral bar, apex of both scutellum and post-

scutellum, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, spot under fore wing, mesepimeron; |

legs rufous on femora, tibiae, and tarsi; more dusky on hind tarsus and apex

of hind tibia; black in large part on coxae and first trochanters; yellow at apices

of coxae, all second trochanters. Some western specimens have small yellow

orbital bars. Occasionally the scutellum is black; sometimes the prepectus is

yellow spotted; rarely the face is entirely black. |

Male: 4.6-6.8 mm.; OOC 1.5-1. 8x HO; face width 2.0-2.25x height; apical

lobes of clypeus weakly rounded, apical emargination very shallow; 19-21,

rarely 22, flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments 6 or 7-13, 14, or

15; flagellum covered with short erect hairs; abdomen slender, widest at seg-

ment 3, gradually narrowed basad and distad of it; petiole length 1. 4-1. 9x

width; abundant short pubescence on abdomen. :

Black. Bright yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space, in-

ner orbit, scape ventrally; a black line sometimes extends down from each an-

tennal fossa towards clypeus; yellow on humeral bar, tegula, apex of scutellum,

tip of proepisternum, tip of pronotal lobe, spots laterally and ventrally on pre-

pectus, spot under fore wing, mesepimeron; legs paler than in female, fore

and middle coxae extensively marked apically with yellow; yellow spotted or

banded at base of each of abdominal segments 3-6. Frequently there is a par-

tial longitudinal yellow stripe above the middle coxa; the prepectus is occasion-

ally all yellow; sometimes the basal yellow abdominal bands are strongly

developed; occasionally the scutellum is all black.

Specimen: o, Juarez, Mexico, Jan. 17, 1941 (Washington).

28 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

This subspecies is distributed west of 100° W. longitude from Alaska into

Mexico and eastward in the Canadian zone to the Atlantic. The typical sub-

species occurs in Europe, and subspecies groenlandicus occurs in Greenland.

4. Homotropus stictonotus, new species

(Figure 16)

Female: 5.2 mm. (4.1-5.4 mm.); head shagreened; occipital carina

rounded; OOC 2.0x (1. 9x) HO; frons vertically sulcate before medial ocellus;

face width 1. 6x (1. 7x) height; clypeus separated from face by a weak crease,

width 1. 85x (2.0x) height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median emar- |

gination, impressed along apical margin, shagreened; malar space 0. 8x basal

width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible shallowly concave; 20 (21) flagellar

segments; sense cones separated by more than the width of a cone, conspicu-

ous; hairs on flagellum short and inclined; thorax lightly shagreened, more

polished laterally on mesoscutum and on speculum, moderately punctate on

mesoscutum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural |

carina well developed; propodeum with lateral carina developed, shagreened on

basal and lateral areas, more rugulose on petiolar area; areolet square, ses-

sile, 2nd intercubitus unpigmented; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus

broken below middle; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femo-

ra lightly shagreened and obscurely punctate; setae lacking from external face

of hind tibia; abdomen rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed from seg-

ment 3 to apex of abdomen; petiole length 1.4x width, evenly shagreened, mar-

gins weakly divergent behind spiracles; segment 2 slightly wider than long; re-

mainder of abdomen shagreened, progressively more polished towards apex;

epipleura distinct on segments 2 and 3; spiracles dorsad of sutures; abdomen

almost glabrous.

Black. Cream on small median facial spot, clypeus, and mandible; palpi

slightly dusky; cream on humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, upper end

of mesepimeron, longitudinal stripe posteriorly on lower mesopleurum; legs

largely rufous, more dusky apically on hind tibia and on all tarsi; cream on

fore and middle coxae and trochanters, apex of hind coxa, second hind trochan-

ter, ventrally on hind tibia at base; black at bases of fore and middle coxae,

hind coxa except for apex, and hind first trochanter; rufous on apical margins

of abdominal segments 2 and 3, apical 0.4 of segment 4, most of remaining

segments except for slight dorsal infuscation, and on epipleura. Sometimes

the fore and middle first trochanters are fuscous; the rufous of the abdomen

may be reduced to the apices of the terminal segments.

Male: 4.3-5.5 mm.; face width 1. 7-1.9x height; clypeus width 2.1-2. 3x

height; malar space 0. 8-1.0x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.4x HO; 20-21

flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments 7-15; hairs on flagellum

short and erect; petiole length 1.5-1.7x width; abdomen more pubescent than

in female. .

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, proepisternum, tip of

pronotal lobe, subtegular ridge, upper end of mesepimeron, prepectus, longi-

tudinal stripe on lower mesopleurum; legs as in female; yellow basal bands on

abdominal segments 4, 5, and 6; rufous on apical margins of segments 2-7 and

on epipleura. Black capillary lines often extend partly or entirely from an-

tennal fossae to clypeus. Occasional specimens are blackened on the abdomen

except for the basal yellow bands.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 29

This species is recognizable by the shagreened and punctate mesoscutum,

the longitudinal stripe on the mesopleurum, the black hind coxa, the rufous

apex of the female abdomen, and the rugulose petiolar area of the propodeum.

: Type: 9, Laguna Amarga, Natales, Magallanes, Chile, Dec. 14-21, 1960,

L. Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: lo’, 29, Laguna Amarga, Natales, Magallanes, Chile, Dec.

11, 14-21, 1960, L. Pena (Townes). 20°, La Peninsula, Magallanes, Chile,

Dec. 11, 1960, T. Cehalovick (Townes). o, 9, 35 km. south of Porvenir,

Tierra del Fuego, Chile, Dec. 4-8, 1960, L. Pena (Townes). 30%, 19, Rio

Tres Pasos, Magallanes, Chile, Dec. 11, 1960, T. Cehalovick (Townes). <c,

Seno de Otway, Magallanes, Chile, Feb. 26, 1961 (Townes).

0. Homotropus ruficauda, new species

(Figure 17)

Female: 4.8 mm. (5.0 mm.); head shagreened, more polished on frons

and gena, obscurely punctate on gena; occipital carina rounded; OOC 1.55x

(1.4x) HO; face width 1.6x height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median

emargination, impressed along apical margin, shagreened; malar space 0. 8x

(0. 9x) basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate;

20 (21) flagellar segments; sense cones separated by more than the width of a

cone, inconspicuous; hairs on flagellum short and inclined; thorax mostly pol-

ished, deeply and closely punctate on mesoscutum, more obscurely anteriorly

and ventrally on mesopleurum, and on mesosternum; prepectal carina com-

plete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina strong; propodeum with weak

lateral carina, shagreened on basal areas, more scabrous on petiolar area;

areolet square, sessile, second intercubitus pigmented; nervulus distad of ba-

sal vein; nervellus broken slightly below middle; 2 hamuli on costellan fold;

legs slender; coxae and femora shagreened and obscurely punctate; setae

lacking from external face of hind tibia; abdomen rounded dorsally, progres-

sively narrowed from segment 3 to apex; petiole length 1. 3x (1. 5x) width, sha-

greened, margins slightly divergent behind spiracles; segment 2 slightly

wider than long; abdomen shagreened and largely glabrous; epipleura distinct

on segment 2 and basal 0.6 of 3.

Black. Yellow on median facial spot, clypeus, mandible, palpi, humeral

bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, tip of proepisternum, longitudinal stripe on

lower mesopleurum, tip of mesepimeron; yellow on fore and middle coxae and

trochanters; black on basal 0.7 of hind coxa, the lateral angles and apex yellow;

black on first hind trochanter; femora and tibia mostly tawny-rufous except

dusky at base and apex of hind tibia, dorsally on other tibiae, and on all tarsi;

rufous on apical 0.4 of abdominal segment 2 and remaining segments to apex

of abdomen; ovipositor sheath black.

Male: 4.3-4.4 mm.; face width 1:6-1.9x height; clypeus width 2.3-2. 4x

height; 20 flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments 7-15; petiole

length 1.6-1.7x width; abdominal pubescence light.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, scape, and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe,

proepisternum, prepectus, subtegular ridge, most of mesepimeron, wide

stripe on lower mesopleurum; legs and abdomen as in female. The abdominal

segments may be slightly infuscated basally and medially.

This species is recognizable by the polished and punctate mesoscutum, the

red abdomen, and the color of the hind coxa and tibia.

. 30 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Type: 92, Tolhuaca, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 8-11, 1962, L. Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: 20’, Bio-Bio, Salto del Abanico, Chile, Dec. 30, 1950, Ross

& Michelbacher (San Francisco). 9, Cherquenco, Cautin, Chile, March, 1954,

L. Pefia (Ottawa). 9, Lago Galletue, Cordillera Lonquimay, Chile, Jan. 19-

31, 1962, L. Pena (Townes). og. Liucura, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 1-9, 1959;

at 1, 800 m. , Jan. 6-10, 1959, iL Pena (Ottawa).

6. Homotropus flavidus, new species

(Figure 18)

Female: 5.0 mm.; head shagreened, more polished on frons and gena,

obscurely punctate on gena; occipital carina broadly rounded medially; OOC

1.6x HO; face width 1. 75x height; clypeus separated from face by a weak

crease, width 2.2x height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median emar-

gination, impressed along apical margin, shagreened; malar space 0. 9x basal

width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible weakly concave; 19 flagellar seg-

ments; sense cones separated by more than the width of a cone; hairs on fla-

gellum very short and inclined; thorax largely polished, lightly shagreened on

groove of pronotum, obscurely punctate on lower and anterior mesopleurum

and on mesosternum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow;

pleural carina strong; propodeum with irregular weak lateral carina, sha-

greened on basal areas, more rugulose on petiolar area; areolet large, rec-

tangular, sessile, second intercubitus unpigmented; nervulus opposite basal

vein; nervellus broken below middle; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender;

coxae and femora weakly shagreened and obscurely punctate; setae lacking on

external face of hind tibia; abdomen rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed

from base of segment 3 to apex, weakly compressed at apex; petiole length

1.4x width, shagreened, margins slightly divergent behind spiracles; segment

2 wider than long; abdomen shagreened, progressively more polished apically;

epipleura distinct on segments 2 and 3; spiracles dorsad of sutures; abdomen

largely glabrous.

Black. Cream on clypeus, mandible, palpi with apical segments infus-

cated, small humeral bar, tegula, lateral stripes on scutellum, lateral edge

of proepisternum, tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular ridge, mesepimeron, small

spot on posterior lower mesopleurum; legs mostly cream; black at bases of

fore and middle coxae, internally and anteriorly and a posterior spot on hind

coxa, first trochanters, a dorsal and ventral stripe on each femur, a dorsal

stripe on each tibia and tarsus; tarsi more dusky; yellow at apex of petiole,

basally and laterally on segments 2-6, rufous on remainder of these segments

except for three black spots on each side of terga 2-6.

Male: 4.3-4.7 mm.; face width 2. 0x height; clypeus width 2. 4x height,

- apical lobes nearly lacking, median emargination very shallow; depression

between tentorial pits rather deep; malar space 0. 8-0.9x basal width of man-

dible; OOC 1.75x HO; 19 flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments T-

15; petiole length 1.4-1. 6x width.

Black. Yellow on narrow inner orbital bar on lower 0.5 of eye, apical

0.5 of clypeus, mandible, palpi, small spot under each wing and sometimes

on lower mesopleurum; legs similar to female or the hind coxa entirely black,

and the fuscous stripes broader than in the female; abdomen as in female, but

the yellow areas somewhat dusky.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 31

This species is distinctive in its polished mesoscutum, the narrow male

clypeus, and the color of the legs and abdomen.

Type: 9, Isla Navarino, ‘‘P. Williams’’, Magallanes, Chile, Feb. 5,

1957, T. Cehalovick (Townes).

Paratypes: 20’, Monte Fenton, Chile, Jan. 9, 1952, L. Pena (Ottawa). ©

7. Homotropus limbatus, new species

(Figure 19)

Female: 5.4 mm. (5.1 mm.); head shagreened, more polished on gena,

finely punctate on face and gena; occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1. 6x

HO; face width 2. 1x (2. 0x) height; clypeus separated from face by a strong

crease, width 2.1x (2.3x) height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median

emargination, only weakly impressed apically, mostly polished; malar space

0. 6x (0.'7x) basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible very shallowly

notched; 19 (18) flagellar segments; sense cones separated by about the width

of a cone, inconspicuous; mesoscutum polished, punctate anteriorly and before

scutellum, rest of thorax mixed shagreened and punctate, polished around

speculum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural

carina low; propodeum with weak basal and lateral carinae, shagreened basal-

ly, more rugulose on petiolar area; areolet square, sessile (or short petio-

late), second intercubitus pigmented; nervulus distad of basal vein; nervellus

broken below middle; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and fe-

mora weakly shagreened and obscurely punctate; few setae on external face of

hind tibia; abdomen rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed from base of

segment 4 to apex; petiole length 1.4x width, shagreened, more scabrous be-

hind spiracle; segment 2 slightly wider than long; abdomen shagreened, more

polished from segment 4 to apex, mostly glabrous; epipleura distinct on seg-

ment 2 and basal 0.5 of 3; spiracles dorsad of sutures.

Black. Yellow on small facial spot, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi somewhat dusky; yellow on recurved humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal

lobe, spot under each wing; legs yellow on coxae except black on basal 0.7 of ©

hind coxa; yellow on trochanters and anteriorly on femora, ventrally on all

tibiae; dusky on tibiae dorsally and on tarsi; remainder of legs tawny-rufous;

abdomen rufous behind apical 0.3 of segment 3 to apex of abdomen, yellow

along lateral margins of segments 2 to apex and on all epipleura. The hume-

ral bars are frequently not recurved. The rufous portions of the abdomen

may be variously infuscated. The medial facial spot may be lacking.

Male: 5.6-5.8 mm.; face width 2.2-2.3x height; clypeus width 2.1-2. 4x

height; malar space 0. 7-0. 8x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.3-1.45x HO; 20

flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments 7-14; petiole length 1.4-1. 5x

width; abdomen finely pubescent.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible,

palpi, scape and pedicel ventrally; thorax as in female, occasionally a small

yellow spot or stripe on lower posterior mesopleurum; legs and abdomen as

in female; the rufous of the abdomen may be largely infuscated. Occasionally

black capillary lines extend from the antennae to the clypeus.

This species is recognizable by the polished mesoscutum with its puncta-

tion anteriorly and posteriorly, the yellow malar space of the female, the ru-

fous and yellow color pattern of the abdomen, and the occasionally recurved

humeral bars.

32 | Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Type: 9, Laguna Dam, Coquimbo Province, Chile, at 8,000 ft., Dec. 6,

1950, Ross & Michelbacher (San Francisco).

Paratypes: 30°, 49, Belen, Tarapaca, Chile, at 3,340 m., Oct. 17, 25,

and Nov. 19, 1952, L. Pena (Ottawa). o’, Hda Illapel, Coquimbo, Chile,

Nov. 1, 1954, L. Pena (Ottawa). 40°, 209, Laguna Dam, Coquimbo Prov.,

Chile, at 8,000 ft., Dec. 5 and 6, 1950, Ross & Michelbacher (San Francisco).

o, 5 miles north of Laguna Dam, Coquimbo Prov., Chile, at 8,000 ft., Dec.

6, 1950, Ross & Michelbacher (San Francisco). 9, Las Condes, Santiago,

Chile, Oct. 1953, L. Pefia (Ottawa). o', Portezuelo Tres Cruces, Coquimbo

Prov., Chile, at 1,900 m., Oct. 30, 1957, L. Pena (Townes).

8. Homotropus comptus, new species.

(Figures 20 and 54)

Female: 6.5 mm.; head shagreened and finely punctate; occipital carina

broadly rounded; OOC 1.45x HO; vertex shallowly sulcate medially; face width

2. 3x height; clypeus separated from face by a very weak crease, width 2.1x

height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median emargination, shallowly

impressed along apical margin, polished; malar space 0. 9x basal width of

mandible; upper and lower teeth of mandible broadly truncate; 19 flagellar seg-

ments; sense cones separated by about the width of a sense cone, inconspicu- -

ous; hairs on flagellum forming a short silvery pile; mesoscutum polished and

finely punctate except in a medial and a lateral glabrous area; rest of thorax

lightly shagreened and abundantly but finely punctate; prepectal carina com-

plete; mesosternal suture shallow; sternaulus rather deep; pleural carina well

defined; propodeum with low lateral carina, shagreened, slightly more rugu-

lose on petiolar area, spiracle with conspicuous raised lip; areolet small,

long petiolate; nervulus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken well below mid-

dle; discoidella rather weak; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs rather stout; pol-

ished and obscurely punctate on coxae and femora; few setae on external face

of hind tibia; abdomen stout, rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed from

base of segment 3 to apex; petiole broad, length 1.1x width, shagreened, with

a strong lateral carina from spiracle to apex; segment 2 broad, width 1. 8x

length; rest of abdomen shagreened and mostly glabrous, more polished to- |

wards apex; epipleura distinct on segments 2 and 3; spiracles dorsad of lateral |

sutures. | )

Black. Yellow on median facial spot, malar space and lower inner orbit,

_ clypeus except for basal black spot and mandible; palpi somewhat dusky; yel-

low on long recurved humeral bar, tegula, tip of proepisternum, tip of prono-

tal lobe, prepectus, subtegular ridge, upper end of mesepimeron, and longi-

tudinal stripe on lower mesopleurum; legs black on bases of fore and middle

coxae, basal 0.7 of hind coxa except for angles, first hind trochanter, poste-

rior stripes on fore and middle femora, dorsal stripes on fore and middle

tibiae, anterior and posterior stripes on hind femur, dorsal stripe and basal

and apical bands on hind tibia, all tarsi; remainder of legs mostly yellow; ru-

fous on narrow apical triangle on abdominal segment 2, and all of remaining

segments posteriorly; more yellow on lower inflexed and ventral surfaces.

The paratype from Peru has the apical abdominal segments slightly infus-

cated basally and laterally, the hind femur more rufous, and the prepectus

black.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 33

Male: 4.9-5.0 mm. ; face width 2.15x height, margins divergent ventrally;

clypeus width 2. 1-2. 25x ‘height: malar space 0.75-0.9x basal width of mandi-

ble; OOC 1. 8x HO; 19 flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments 6-15;

petiole length 1. Ao OX width.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, scape and pedicel ventrally; thorax and legs as in female;

the scutellum may have a median transverse yellow stripe; abdomen as in fe-

male, but apically and sometimes laterally infuscated; the apical margins of

segments 2-7 are narrowly banded with yellow.

This species is recognizable by the largely polished mesoscutum, the

_ broadly truncate teeth of the mandible, the conspicuous raised margin of the

propodeal spiracle, the broad petiole and second abdominal segment of the

female, and the color of the face, legs, humeral bars, and abdomen.

Type: 2, Lago Argentina, Province Santa Cruz, Puerto Bandera, Argen-

tina, Jan. 26, 1962, T. Cehalovick (Townes).

Paratypes: 20°, Liucura, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 1-9, 1959, L. Pena

(Ottawa). 9, La Huerta, Peru, 3,800 m., Nov. 24, 1955, L. Pena (Ottawa).

9. Homotropus cuneatus, new species

(Figures 21 and 55)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 5.1 mm. (3.9 mm.); head shagreened, obscurely punctate on gena;

vertex sloping abruptly to occipital carina from behind ocelli; occipital carina

transverse medially; OOC 1.5x HO; face width 1. 6x (1. 7x) height: clypeus

separated from face by a weak crease, width 2. 3x (2.1x) height, truncate

apically, median emargination nearly lacking, impressed along apical margin,

shagreened; malar space 0.9x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible

very shallowly concave; 20 (21) flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar seg-

ments 7-14 (15); sense cones abundant, separated by the width of a cone; hairs

on flagellum short and erect ventrally, inclined dorsally; thorax polished,

some light shagreen laterally and posteriorly on mesoscutum, on pronotum,

low on mesopleurum and mesosternum, finely punctate medially on mesoscu-

tum, on mesopleurum except for speculum, and on mesosternum; prepectal

carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina strong; propode-

um with lateral carina, basal area lightly shagreened, petiolar and lateral

areas weakly rugulose; areolet square, sessile, second intercubitus pigmen-

ted; nervulus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken slightly below middle; 3

hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora lightly shagreened

and obscurely punctate; no setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen rather

broad, progressively narrowed from segment 5 to apex; petiole length 1. 7x

(1. 45x) width, shagreened, weakly rugulose laterally, a lateral carina from

spiracle to apex; segment 2 much wider than long, shagreened, striate basally

and laterally; remaining segments mostly shagreened and lightly punctate,

more polished apically; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.7 of 3;

spiracles of segments 2 and 3 dorsad of sutures; abdomen with abundant short

pubescence.

Black. Yellow on broad inner orbit from level of antenna to clypeus, cly-

peus, mandible, palpi, humeral bar, tegula, tip of mesepimeron; black on

bases of fore and middle coxae, all of hind coxa, all first trochanters; yellow

on rest of coxae and trochanters; tawny ventrally on hind tibia; rest of legs

34 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

mostly rufous; dusky at bases of fore and middle femora, basal 0. 6+ (or most)

of hind femur, dorsally and apically on hind tibia, hind tarsus. Sometimes a

yellow spot is present on the middle of the face. |

This species is recognizable in the male by the yellow inner orbits, the

truncate clypeus, the presence of an areolet, the sculpturing of the thorax, the

color of the legs, and the black abdomen.

Type: o, Funza, Cundimarca, Columbia, Nov. 24, 1955, E. C. Maiz

(Townes).

Paratypes: 2c, Bogota, Cundimarca, Malezas, Columbia, Nov. 9, 1954,

M. Revelo (Townes). o, Funza, Cundimarca, Columbia, Nov. 24, 1955, E.

Maiz (Townes). 2c, Lago Surucucho, 11 miles west of Cuenca, Ecuador, Feb.

16, 1955, E. Schlinger & E. Ross (San Francisco). o, Pass on Pacific-Atlan-

tic Divide, Estado Trujillo, Venezuela, at 8, 000-9, 000 ft., Sept. 15, 1957,

Malkin (San Francisco).

10. Homotropus maculifrons Cresson

(Figure 22)

Bassus maculifrons Cresson, 1865. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. 4:272. 9. Type:

2, California (Philadelphia).

Bassus semifasciatus Walsh, 1873. Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis S70. SO,

Type: o, ?Illinois (destroyed).

Biology: Kamal, 1926. Jour. Econ. Ent. 19: 722, 727. - Kamal, 1939. Tech.

Scient. Serv. Bul. Min. Agr. Egypt 207:12, 14-21, 46-47, 49-50, -52, 54,

57, fig. 11-27, 86,. 93.

Female: 5.8-7.8 mm. ; head weakly inflated on gena, dull shagreened,

more polished on gena, strongly punctate on face and vertex, obscurely punc-

tate on gena; OOC 1.6-1.75x HO; face width 2.2-2.7x height; clypeus separa-

ted from face by a definite suture, width 2.1-2.2x height, apical lobes rounded

with a shallow median emargination, weakly impressed laterally on apical

lobes, polished; malar space 0.4-0. 7x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of ©

mandible bidentate; 19-21, rarely 18 or 22 flagellar segments, first segment

length 4.1-4.5x width; sense cones closer together than the width of a cone,

abundant on segment one, inconspicuous; flagellum covered with short erect

hairs; thorax polished, deeply and closely punctate; prepectal carina incom-

plete ventrally; pleural carina low; propodeum lacking carinae, evenly sha-

greened and punctate basally, rough shagreened on petiolar area; wing lacking

areolet, or rarely present; 2-5 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae

and femora polished and obscurely punctate; numerous strong setae on exter-

nal face of hind tibia; hind tibia weakly compressed apically; abdomen progres-

sively narrowed from base of segment 3 to apex of abdomen; petiole stout rec-

tangular, length 1.3-1.5x width, shagreened, weakly scabrous laterally; seg-

ment 2 wider than long, shagreened, polished apically; rest of abdomen pol-

ished, very faintly shagreened; abdomen sparsely pubescent; epipleura dis-

tinct on segment 2 and base of 3, inflexed; spiracle of 3 ventrad of suture.

Black. Bright yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, round median facial

spot, curved band from clypeus to eye, recurved humeral bar, tegula, tip of

pronotal lobe, spot under fore wing, mesepimeron, and most of scutellum and

postscutellum; legs largely rufous; yellow on fore coxa except black at base;

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 35 -

fuscous at apex of hind tibia and all of hind tarsus; yellow on large spots at

posterior corners of abdominal segments 2-6 and ventrally on intersegmental ©

membranes.

Male: 4.9-7.1 mm.; OOC 1.4-1.8x HO; face width 2. 2x height; 20-22,

rarely 19 flagellar segments; tyloids variable, on segments 5 or 6-15, 16, 17,

or 18; petiole length 1.5-1.6x width; abdomen more pubescent than in female.

Black. Yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space, inner or-

bit, scape and pedicel ventrally, long recurved humeral bar, tegula, scutel-.

lum, postscutellum, proepisternum, large spot at apex of pronotal lobe, spot

under fore wing, mesepimeron, prepectus, and a longitudinal stripe low on

mesopleurum; legs as in female, but paler on fore and middle legs; yellow on

fore and middle coxae and trochanters; large cream spots at apical corners

of abdominal segments 2-6, and all of inflexed surface.

Specimen: o, Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico, April 2, 1939,

C. Michener (San Francisco).

This species is distributed in the Canadian, Transition, and Upper Sonoran

faunas of western North America, and is also reported from Hawaii.

11. Homotropus preclarus, new species

(Figure 23)

Female: 6.7 mm.; head shagreened and obscurely punctate; occipital

carina rounded; OOC 2.0x HO; face width 2.1x height; clypeus separated from

face by a weak crease, width 1. 8x height, apical lobes rounded with a mode-

rate median emargination, shagreened; malar space 1. 0x basal width of man-

dible; upper tooth of mandible broad, shallowly concave; 23 flagellar segments;

sense cones abundant, closer together than the width of a cone; hairs of fla-

gellum forming a low dense pile; thorax polished, lightly shagreened on pro-

notum, finely punctate anteriorly on mesoscutum, anteriorly and ventrally on

mesopleurum and on mesosternum; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal

suture shallow; pleural carina low; propodeum lacking carinae, mostly pol-

ished, petiolar face abruptly vertical, a series of fine carinulae around petio-

lar area; areolet lacking; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus broken far >

below middle; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs stout, hind tibia compressed,

coxae and femora lightly shagreened and finely punctate; no spines on external

face of hind tibia; abdomen broad, widest at apex of segment 3, then progres-

sively narrowed to apex; petiole length 1. 7x width, mostly polished, striate

except medially at apex, spiracle prominent at middle of segment; segment 2

much wider than long, deeply striate on basal 0.54; remainder of abdomen pol-

ished and glabrous; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.5 of 3; spira-

cles dorsad of sutures.

Black. Cream on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, and

scape ventrally; palpi fuscous; cream on humeral bar recurved to scutellum,

lateral band on scutellum continuing the humeral bar, postscutellum, anterior

0.5+ of tegula, laterally on proepisternum, tip of pronotal lobe, prepectus,

subtegular ridge, mesepimeron, short longitudinal stripe on lower mesopleu-

rum; black on posterior portion of tegula and on axillary sclerites; legs mostly

black, cream on apical 0.8 of fore coxa, apical 0.4 of middle coxa, ventrally

on fore femur, medially on fore tibia, apex of middle femur, medially on mid-

dle and hind tibiae.

36 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Male: 6.6 mm.; face width 1.9x height; clypeus width 1. 6x height; malar

space 1.1x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.5x HO; 22 flagellar segments; ty-

loids lacking; petiole length 1. 85x width.

Coloring as in female, except for more cream on proepisternum, a wider

stripe on the mesopleurum, and a white longitudinal band on the middle femur

anteriorly.

This species is recognizable by the absence of tyloids in the male, the

closely placed sense cones of the female flagellum, the cream face of the fe-

male, the extensive cream and black markings of the thorax and legs, the

striations of abdominal segments 1 and 2, and the location of the petiolar spira-

cle at the median point of the segment.

Type: 9, Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Aug. 1-6, 1961, R. & K. Dreisbach

(Townes).

Paratype: o, Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Sept. 28-Oct. 3, 1961, R. & K.

Dreisbach (Dreisbach).

12. Homotropus mexicanus, new species

(Figures 24 and 57)

Female: 5.0 mm.; head shiny shagreened, obscurely punctate on gena;

occipital carina rounded; OOC 1.4x HO; face width 2. 35x height; clypeus sepa-

rated from face by a weak crease, width 1.9x height, apical lobes rounded

with a moderate median emargination, impressed along apical margin, sha-

-greened; malar space 0. 85x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible

very shallowly concave; 18 flagellar segments; sense cones separated by the

width of a cone, inconspicuous; hairs on flagellum short and inclined; thorax

shiny shagreened and largely impunctate, polished on speculum; prepectal

carina incomplete ventrally; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina large-

ly lacking; propodeum evenly shagreened, polished low on petiolar area; areo-

let lacking; nervulus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken below middle; 4

hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora shagreened and ob-

scurely punctate; setae lacking from external face of hind tibia; abdomen nar-

rowed from base of segment 3, rather strongly compressed from segment 5 to

apex; petiole length 1.5x width, shiny shagreened, lateral carina from spira-

cle to apex; segment 2 slightly wider than long, shiny shagreened; remainder

of abdomen shiny shagreened; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of

3; spiracle of segment 2 dorsad of suture, of segment 3 posterior to end of

suture; abdomen almost glabrous.

Black. Yellow on wide inner orbit reaching clypeus and malar space, cly-

peus, mandible, palpi, humeral bar, anterior corners of scutellum, tegula,

tip of pronotal lobe, tip of proepisternum, prepectus, subtegular ridge, longi-

tudinal stripe on lower mesopleurum, mesepimeron; legs mostly rufous, yel-

low on fore and middle coxae and apical 0.5 of hind coxa, and all trochanters;

black on basal 0.5 of hind coxa; fuscous dorsally and apically on hind tibia,

hind tarsus; rufous on basal 0.5+ of abdominal segments 2, 3, 4, and 5, apical

margins of 2-5, lateral basal and apical spots on 6-8, ventral surface.

Male: Unknown.

This species is recognizable by the shape of the clypeus, the color of the

face, the wide face, the absence of the areolet, the even shagreening of the

body, the incomplete prepectal carina, the color of the abdomen, and the

compressed abdomen. :

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 37

| Type: 2, Desierto de los Leones, Distrito Federal, Mexico, at 2,900 m.,

Oct. 13, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

13. Homotropus interstinctus, new species

(Figure 25)

Female: 5.7mm. (5.3 mm.); head evenly shagreened and impunctate;

occipital carina broadly rounded medially; OOC 1.0x HO; face width 1. 75x

height; clypeus separated from face by a weak crease, width 1. 7x (1. 9x) height,

apical lobes rounded with a moderate median emargination, impressed along

apical margin, shagreened; malar space 0. 6x basal width of mandible; upper

tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 21 flagellar segments; sense cones

separated by more than the width of a cone, inconspicuous; hairs on flagellum

short and inclined; thorax evenly shagreened, more polished on speculum; pre-

pectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina largely

lacking; propodeum evenly shagreened; areolet small, petiolate, second inter-

cubitus partially pigmented; nervulus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken be-

low middle; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora sha-

greened and obscurely punctate; few setae on external face of hind tibia; abdo-

men progressively narrowed from base of segment 3, moderately compressed

at apex; petiole length 1. 2x (1. 4x) width, shagreened, finely striate laterally,

margins divergent behind spiracles; segment 2 wider than long; abdomen even-

ly shagreened; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and base of 3; spiracle of seg-

ment 2 dorsad of suture, of 3 posterior to end of suture; abdomen mostly glab-

rous.

Black. Pale yellow on middle of face from clypeus to antennal fossae,

malar space, clypeus, mandible, scape and pedicel ventrally; palpi more dus-

ky; pale yellow on humeral bar, tegula, lateral margins of scutellum, tip of

pronotal lobe, dorsal spot on prepectus, subtegular ridge, wide stripe posteri-

orly on lower mesopleurum, mesepimeron; legs cream on fore and middle

coxae, all trochanters, annulus on medial 0. 3+ of hind tibia; rufous on rest of

fore and middle legs and hind femur; black on hind coxa, basal and apical 0. 3+

of hind tibia, and all of hind tarsus; rufous on apical 0.5 of abdominal segment

2, all of remaining segments except for small fuscous blotches ventro-lateral-

ly on segments 3, 4, and 5. The abdominal segments may be largely infusca-

ted, with the rufous evident only at the base, apex, and laterally on the seg-

ments.

Male: 5.2-5.4 mm.; face width 1. 7x height; clypeus width 2.1x height;

malar space 0. 7x basal width of mandible; OOC 0.9x HO; 20 flagellar seg-

ments; tyloids on flagellar segments 8-13; sense cones abundant, separated by

the width of a cone; hairs of flagellum short and erect; petiole length 1. 7x

width.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, lateral margins of scu-

tellum, posterior 0.6+4 of pronotal lobe, proepisternum, prepectus, subtegular

ridge, lower 0.5+ of mesopleurum, most of mesosternum, mesepimeron; legs

as infemale, except hind coxa cream with posterior black vertical stripe;

cream spot at basal corner of abdominal segment 2 and bands at base of each

of segments 3, 4, and 5, and on ventral surface. The metapleurum may also

be cream.

38 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

This species is recognizable by the even shagreening of the entire body,

the black and white banded hind tibia, the male tyloids on flagellar segments

8-13, the presence of the areolet, and the color of the female abdomen.

Type: 9, Nova Teutonia, Santa Catarina, Brazil, March 21, 1948, F.

Plaumann (Townes). |

Paratypes: 2c’, 19, Nova Teutonia, Santa Catarina, Brazil, May 22, 1948,

and June 18, 1946, F. Plaumann (Townes). o, 2, Nova Teutonia, 27911’ S.,

52° 23’ W., Brazil, at 300-500 m., Sept. 2 and 3, 1948, F. Plaumann

(Ottawa). |

14. Homotropus pacificus Cresson

(Figure 26)

Bassus macultfrons Holmgren, 1868. Eugenies Resa, Insecta p. 410. 9.

Type: 2, San Francisco, Calif. (Stockholm). Name preoccupied by

Cresson, 1865.

Bassus pactficus Cresson, 1878. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1878:376. 9.

Type: 9, California (Philadelphia).

Bassus xanthopsis Ashmead, 1890. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 12:440. oc.

Type: o, reared from syrphid, Alameda, Calif. (Washington).

Biology: Kamal, 1926. Jour. Econ. Ent. 19: 727. - Kamal, 1939. Tech.

Scient. Serv. Bul. Min. Agr. Egypt 207: 21-23, 46-47, fig. 28-32 and 95.

Female: 4.4-5.0 mm.; head shiny shagreened, more polished and obscure-

ly punctate on gena; OOC 1.4-1. 7x HO; face width 1. 7-1. 9x height; clypeus

separated from face by a weak crease, width 1.9-2.1x height, apical lobes

rounded with a moderate median emargination, strongly impressed laterally

on apical lobes, shiny shagreened; malar space 0. 8-0. 9x basal width of man-

dible; upper tooth of mandible subtruncate; 18-19, rarely 20 flagellar seg-

ments, first segment length 4. 2-4. 8x width; flagellum covered with short in- |

clined hairs; thorax shiny shagreened, polished dorsally on mesopleurum, all

obscurely punctate; pleural carina partially lacking; propodeum bearing irreg-

ular lateral carina, basal area evenly shagreened, petiolar area roughly sha-

greened; wing lacking areolet; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae

and femora lightly shagreened and obscurely punctate; a few setae on external

face of hind tibia; abdomen progressively narrowed from base of segment 4 to

apex of abdomen, either strongly arched or compressed at apex; petiole short

rectangular, length 1.4-1.5x width, evenly shagreened, dorsal carinae pre-

sent only near base; segment 2 nearly as wide as long, weakly striate at base,

rest shagreened, polished at apex; remainder of abdomen progressively more

polished apically; abdomen lightly pubescent; epipleura distinct on segment 2

and basal 0.3 of 3, inflexed; spiracle posterior to end of suture on segment 3.

Black. Bright yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, round spot on face,

humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, spot under each wing; legs black on

hind coxa and first trochanter, bases of fore and middle coxae; yellow on rest

of fore and middle coxae, rest of trochanters; rufous on rest of legs; dusky at

apex of hind tibia and all of hind tarsus; rufous on apex of abdominal segment

2 and most of 3, inflexed margins of 2 and 3, ventrally on 1-4. The abdominal

color is variable, the rufous sometimes occurring on all or part of segments

2-4, but often restricted to the base of segment 3.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae : 39

Male: 4.0-5.4 mm.; OOC 1.4-1.6x HO; face width 1.9-2.0x height; 19-

20, rarely 18 or 21 flagellar segments; tyloids on segments 7-14 or 15; hairs

of flagellum short and erect; abdomen rounded above, parallel margined,

gradually narrowed apically; petiole length 1.5-1.7x width; abdomen more

abundantly pubescent than in female.

Black. Yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space, inner or-

bit, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe,

tip of proepisternum, spot under fore wing, mesepimeron, prepectus, longi-

tudinal stripe low on mesopleurum; legs black on most of hind coxa; pale yel-

low at apex and angles of hind coxa, fore and middle coxae, all trochanters;

tawny on rest of fore and middle legs, hind tibia ventrally; rufous on hind fe-

mur; dusky dorsally and apically on hind tibia, all of hind tarsus; rufous on

apex of abdominal segment 2, all of 3 and 4; yellow at bases of segments 3-6,

and on inflexed and ventral surfaces. The abdomen may have the rufous re-

stricted to the apical edges of segments 2-4, with yellow basal bands on 3-6.

Specimens: 2, 5 miles northeast of Encantada, Baja California, Mexico,

at 9,000 ft., May 31, 1958, J. Powell (Albany, Calif.). 9, Ensenada, Baja

California, Mexico, June, 1952 (San Francisco). o&, Jalapa, Veracruz,

Mexico, Aug. 1-6, 1961, R. & K. Dreisbach (Dreisbach). 20, 55.5 km. west

of Mexico City, Mexico, Oct. 24, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). o, 10

miles west of Orizaba, Mexico, Dec. 31, 1940, G. Bohart (San Francisco).

32, Sierra San Pedro Martir, La Grulla, Baja California, Mexico, at 6,500

ft., May 28, 1958, J. Powell (Albany, Calif.).

This species occurs in Mexico and is widely distributed in the Canadian

and Transition zones of western North America.

15. Homotropus calvus, new species

(Figures 27 and 58)

Female: Unknown. ;

Male: 4.7 mm.; head shagreened; occipital carina rounded; OOC 1. 6x

HO; face width 1.5x height; clypeus separated from face by a weak crease,

width 2.2x height, apical lobes rounded with a very weak median emargination,

impressed along apical margin, shagreened; malar space 0. 9x basal width of

mandible; upper tooth of mandible very shallowly concave; 22 flagellar seg-

ments; tyloids on flagellar segments 7-10; sense cones separated by more than

the width of a cone, inconspicuous; hairs on flagellum short and erect; flagel-

lar segments long and slender, antenna longer than fore wing; thorax polished

and nearly impunctate; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow;

pleural carina strong; propodeum evenly shagreened; areolet square, sessile,

second intercubitus unpigmented; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus bro-

ken far below middle; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and fe-

mora shagreened and obscurely punctate; setae lacking on external face of

hind tibia; abdomen slender, gradually tapered behind segment 4; petiole

length 1. 8x width, shagreened with a few weak longitudinal striae, a lateral

carina from spiracle to apex; segment 2 wider than long, shagreened; remain-

der of abdomen shagreened, progressively more polished apically; epipleura

distinct on segments 2, 3, and base of 4; spiracles dorsad of sutures; pubes-

cence of abdomen short and sparse, heavier at apex.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, tiandibte, pal-

pi, scape and pedicel ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe,

40 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

subtegular ridge, ventral spots on prepectus, upper 0.5 of mesepimeron;

black on basal 0.5 of hind coxa and on first hind trochanter; yellow on remain-

der of coxae and trochanters; tawny-rufous on rest of legs; dusky on ventral

stripe on fore femur, dorsal stripe on fore tibia, dorsally on fore tarsus, dor-

sal stripes on middle femur, tibia, and tarsus, dorsally and basally on hind

femur, dorsal stripe and apically on hind tibia, and hind tarsus; yellow on

apical margins of abdominal segments 2-6, basal bands on segments 3-5, on

epipleura, and ventrally.

This species may be recognized by the small number of male tyloids, the .

polished thorax, the presence of an areolet, the long flagellum, and the evenly

shagreened propodeum and abdomen.

Type: 0, Km. 185.5, Tuxtepec-Oaxaca Rd., Oaxaca, Mexico, at 2,200

m., Oct. 22, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

16. Homotropus chilensis, new species

(Figure 28)

Female: 4.8 mm. (4.6 mm.); head shagreened, more polished on frons

and gena, obscurely punctate on gena; occipital carina rounded medially; OOC

1.55x HO; face width 1. 6x height; clypeus separated from face by a weak

crease, width 1. 8x (1. 6x) height, apical lobes weakly rounded with a very shal-

low median emargination, impressed along apical margin, shagreened; malar

space 0. 8x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtrun-

cate; 20 (19) flagellar segments; sense cones separated by more than the width

of a cone, inconspicuous; hairs on flagellum short and inclined; thorax partly

polished, lightly shagreened on medial band on mesoscutum, on pronotum, low

on mesopleurum, and on metapleurum, finely punctate laterally and anteriorly

on mesoscutum, anteriorly and ventrally on mesopleurum; prepectal carina

complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina strong; propodeum lack-

ing carinae, shagreened basally, more rugulose laterally and on petiolar area;

areolet square, sessile, second intercubitus pigmented; nervulus opposite ba-

sal vein; nervellus broken below middle; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slen-

der; coxae and femora lightly shagreened and obscurely punctate; few setae on

external face of hind tibia; abdomen rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed

from segment 4 to apex; petiole length 1.6x width, shagreened, finely striate

laterally; segment 2 slightly wider than long, shagreened and weakly striate

basally and laterally; remainder of abdomen shagreened, more polished apical-

ly; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.5 of 3; spiracles dorsad of su-

tures.

Black. Yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, humeral bar, tegula, tip of

pronotal lobe, spots at bases of fore and hind wings, longitudinal stripe on

lower mesopleurum; legs tawny-rufous; yellow on fore and middle coxae,

posteriorly and apically on hind coxa and all trochanters; black at base, an-

teriorly, and mesally on hind coxa. :

Male: 4.4-5.3 mm. ; face width 1. 7-1. 8x height; clypeus width 2.0-2.2x

height; malar space 0.9-1.1x basal width of mandible; 20-21 flagellar seg-

ments; tyloids on flagellar segments 7-14 (16); hairs on flagellum short and

erect; petiole length 1. 7-1. 9x width.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, scape and pedicel ventrally; flagellum tawny ventrally; yellow

on humeral bar, tegula, proepisternum, posterior 0.5+ of pronotal lobe, pre-

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 41

pectus, lower 0.5 of mesopleurum, mesosternum, subtegular ridge, tip of

mesepimeron; legs as in female, but hind coxa yellow, or black reduced to

base; yellow on basal bands on segments 3, 4, 5, and 6, sometimes a median

line on 2, 3, and 4. Occasionally the apical margin of segments 6 and 7 are

yellow.

This species is recognizable by the narrow lobes of the clypeus, the pat-

tern of the mesoscutal sculpturing, the presence of the areolet, and the color

of the legs and abdomen.

Type: 9, Santiago, Chile, 1943, E. Herrera (Townes).

Paratypes: 20’, Bahia Municiones, Magallanes, Chile, Dec. 10, 1960,

L. Pena (Townes). ¢, Dalcahue, Chiloe Island, Chile, Jan. 17-Feb. 14,

1962, L. Peha (Townes). o, Laguna Amargo, Natales, Magallanes, Chile,

Dec. 14-21, 1960, L. Pena (Townes). 20°, 19, Santiago, Chile, 1943, E.

Herrera (Townes). o, Santiago, Chile, Oct. 28, 1951, L. Pena (Ottawa). 20,

Valparaiso, Chile, Oct. 15, 1900, P. Herbst (Cambridge).

17. Homotropus dolichus, new species

(Figures 29 and 56)

Female: 7.6 mm.; head shiny shagreened; occipital carina narrowly

rounded medially; vertex impressed medially; OOC 1.4x HO; face width 1. 55x

height; clypeus separated from face by a shallow crease, width 1. 6x height,

apical margin truncate, lacking median emargination, shagreened; malar space

1.0x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible very shallowly concave;

21 flagellar segments, segments very slender, first segment length 8. 3x width;

sense cones separated by more than the width of a cone; hairs of flagellum

short and inclined; thorax very narrow, length 2.25x width of mesoscutum; pol-

ished on mesoscutum with a very faint shagreen; more evidently shagreened

over rest of thorax; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow;

pleural carina lacking; propodeum evenly shagreened; areolet lacking; nervu-

lus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken above middle; 3 hamuli on costellan

fold; legs slender; coxae and femora evenly shagreened; setae lacking from

external face of hind tibia; petiole long and slender, compressed from base of

segment 2, strongly compressed from 3 to apex; petiole length 2.0x width,

evenly shagreened, margins parallel behind spiracles; remainder of abdomen

mostly polished and glabrous; epipleura distinct on segments 2 and 3; spiracles

dorsad of sutures. |

Black. Dusky rufous on edge of mandible, maxillary palpus, and antenna;

labial palpus more tawny; rufous on tegula, scutellum, postscutellum, meso-

pleurum, mesosternum, prepectus, metapleurum, and propodeum; legs most-

ly rufous; more dusky on middle tarsus, hind first trochanter, femur, tibia,

and tarsus; rufous on apical 0.7 of petiole, segment 2 except at base, apical

0.5 of 3, laterally and ventrally on 4 and 5.

Male: Unknown.

This species is distinguishable by the clypeal shape, the elongate first

flagellar segment, the polished mesoscutum, the slender thorax, the lack of

the areolet, the rufous markings of the thorax, and the strongly compressed

abdomen.

Type: 92, Nova Teutonia, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Aug. 19, 1952, F.

Plaumann (Townes).

42 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

18. Homotropus macrogaster, new species

(Figure 30)

Female: 5.9 mm. (6.9 mm.); head shagreened; occipital carina rounded;

frons medially sulcate anterior to fore ocellus; OOC 1.75x HO; face width 1. 8x

(2.0x) height; clypeus separated from face by a shallow crease, width 2.0x

height, apical lobes rounded with a moderate median emargination, impressed

along apical margin, shagreened; malar space 0.9x basal width of mandible;

upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 19 flagellar segments; sense

cones slender, separated by about the width of a cone, conspicuous; hairs on

flagellum short and inclined; thorax mostly polished, some shagreen on poste-

rior mesoscutum, lower mesopleurum, and on pronotum, closely and deeply

punctate on mesoscutum, more finely on lower mesopleurum and mesosternum,;

propodeum with partial weak lateral carina, shagreened dorsally and on petio-

lar area, more scabrous laterally; areolet square, second intercubitus pig-

mented; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus broken below middle; ramellus

present; 3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora shagreened

and obscurely punctate; no setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen long

and slender, length equal to fore wing length, compressed at apex; apical mar-

gins of terga transverse or convex; petiole length 1.55x width, shagreened,

margins slightly convergent posteriorly; segment 2 length 1. 4x width; segment

3 slightly longer than wide; abdomen shagreened and almost glabrous; epipleura

distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.4 of 3; spiracles dorsad of sutures.

Black. Yellow on clypeus and mandible; palpi more dusky; yellow on hu-

meral bar and tegula; legs mostly rufous; slightly more dusky on canes Some-

times the tip of the scutellum is rufous.

Male: Unknown.

This species may be distinguished by its very elongate abdomen, strongly

punctate mesoscutum, rufous legs, and the short first abscissa of cubitus.

Type: ¢, Los Robles, Magallanes, Chile, Jan. 22, 1961, T. Cehalovick

(Townes).

Paratype: 9, Rio Tres Pasos, Magallanes, Chile, Dec. 11, 1960, T.

Cehalovick (Townes).

19. Homotropus alternatus, new species

(Figure 31)

Female: 4.8 mm.; head lightly shagreened, obscurely punctate on gena;

occipital carina transverse medially; OOC 2.25x HO; frons medially sulcate

before fore ocellus; face width 1. 7x height, slightly narrowed ventrally, weak-

ly protuberant medially; clypeus separated from face by a weak crease, width

2.1x height, apical lobes rounded with a shallow median emargination, strongly

impressed along apical margin, lightly shagreened; malar space 0. 5x basal

width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 19 flagellar

segments; sense cones separated by the width of a sense cone, inconspicuous;

hairs on flagellum dense, short and erect; thorax polished with sparse fine

puncturing; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural

carina weak; propodeum polished dorsally, weakly rugulose and shagreened on

petiolar area; wing areolet small, square, sessile, second intercubitus unpig-

mented; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus broken slightly below middle;

discoidella straight on basal 0.5, then with a weak anterior curvature before

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 43

continuing to wing margin; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; lightly sha-

greened and obscurely punctate on coxae and femora; no setae on external face

of hind tibia; abdomen progressively narrowed from segment 3 to apex; petiole

length 1.5x width, shagreened and finely striate longitudinally, moderately

elevated on posterior 0.25; segment 2 slightly longer than wide, finely striate

at base and remainder shagreened; progressively more polished to apex of ab-

domen; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and base of 3; spiracles dorsad of su-

tures; abdomen nearly glabrous.

Black. Cream-yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, humeral bar, tegula,

tip of pronotal lobe, and tip of mesepimeron; legs mostly fuscous; cream-

yellow on fore and middle coxae except at base, apex of hind coxa, fore and

middle trochanters, anteriorly on fore femur and tibia, apices of middle and

hind femora, ventrally at base of middle and hind tibiae, and apex of middle

tibiae cream-yellow baso-laterally on petiole and on apical margin of seg-

ments 2-7, epipleura, and ventral surface.

Male: Unknown.

This species is recognizable by the polished thorax, the color of the legs

and abdomen, the transverse occipital carina, and the large OOC/HO ratio.

Type: 9, Banos, Ecuador, at 1,800 m., July 8, 1938, W. Clarke-Mc-

Intyre (Townes).

20. Homotropus furvus, new species

(Figure 32)

Female: 5.0 mm.; head lightly shagreened, obscurely punctate on gena;

occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 2.0x HO; face width 1. 6x height,

slightly narrowed ventrally; clypeus separated from face by a weak crease,

width 2.4x height, apical lobes rounded with a shallow median emargination, _

strongly impressed along apical margin, lightly shagreened; malar space 0. 6x

basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 18

flagellar segments; Sense cones separated by the width of a sense cone, in-

conspicuous; hairs on flagellum dense, short and erect; thorax polished with

sparse fine puncturing; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow;

pleural carina weak; propodeum polished; wing areolet square, petiolate, sec-

ond intercubitus unpigmented; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus broken

at middle; discoidella straight on basal 0.7, then weakly curved posteriorly to

wing margin; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; polished and obscurely

punctate on coxae and femora; no setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen

compressed from base of segment 2, rather strongly compressed from seg-

ment 3 to apex; petiole length 1.9x width, polished except for few fine striae

laterally, moderately elevated on posterior 0.25; segment 2 length 1. 7x width,

polished, weakly striate at base; remainder of abdomen polished and glabrous;

epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3; spiracles dorsad of sutures.

Black. Yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe,

and tip of mesepimeron; legs mostly fuscous; yellow on fore and middle

coxae and trochanters, anteriorly on fore femur, apically on middle and hind

femora, ventrally on all tibiae at base; yellow on abdominal epipleura and

ventral surface.

Male: Unknown.

This species is most closely related to alternatus. It differs in the pol- ©

ished propodeum and petiole, the petiolate areolet, the compressed abdomen,

4A Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

the absence of the humeral bar and apical abdominal bands, the nervellus bro-

ken at the middle, the shape of the discoidella, and the more slender petiole.

Type: 9, Bahos, Ecuador, 1,800 m., July 8, 1938, W. Clarke-MclIntyre |

(Townes).

21. Homotropus lissosoma, new species

(Figure 33)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 4.2 mm. (4.8 mm.); head shiny shagreened; occipital carina sharp-

ly angulate medially; OOC 1.4x HO; face width 1. 5x (1. 6x) height, slightly nar-

rowed ventrally; clypeus separated ‘from face by a weak crease, width 2. 6x

(2.4x) height, apical lobes rounded with a shallow median emargination,

strongly impressed along apical margin, polished; malar space 0. 7x (0. 8x)

basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible shallowly bidentate; 20 fla-

gellar segments; tyloids on segments 7-14; sense cones separated by slightly

more than the width of a cone, inconspicuous; hairs on flagellum short and

erect; thorax polished and largely impunctate; prepectal carina complete;

mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina low; propodeum with strong lateral

carina and an arching transverse carina between basal and petiolar areas,

shagreened on lateral area, rest polished; wing areolet lacking or partially

indicated; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus broken well below middle;

3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; polished on coxae and lightly sha-

greened on femora; no setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen rounded

dorsally, gradually narrowed apically; petiole length 1. 4x (1. 6x) width, sha-

greened; segment 2 length subequal to width, striate and weakly shagreened;

segment 3 striate on basal 0.3; remainder of abdomen lightly shagreened, pro-

gressively more polished apically; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal

0.3 of 3; spiracle of 2 dorsad of suture, of 3 posterior to end of suture.

Black. Yellow on face, clypeus, mandible, palpi, small humeral bar,

tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, and tip of mesepimeron; yellow on fore and mid-

dle coxae and trochanters, second hind trochanter, and ventrally on all tibiae;

black on hind coxa and first trochanter, basal 0.6 of hind femur, dorsally and

apically on hind tibia; dusky on dorsal stripe on fore and middle femora and

tibiae and all tarsi; remainder of legs tawny-rufous; reddish on apical mar-

gins of abdominal segments 2, 3, and 4, and a narrow medial stripe on 3 and

4. :

This species is recognizable by the polished thorax and propodeum, the

transverse propodeal carina between the basal and petiolar areas, the stria-

tions on abdominal segment 2, the color of the legs and abdomen, the angulate

occipital carina, _and the absence of the wing areolet.

Type: &, Bafios, Ecuador, 2,500 m. eitay 6, 1939, W. Clarke-MaclIntyre

(Townes).

Paratype: o, same data as type (Townes).

22. Homotropus masoni, new species

(Figure 34)

Female: 4.2 mm.; head evenly shagreened, more polished on gena; occi-

pital carina narrowly rounded medially; vertex impressed medially; OOC 1.1x

HO; face width 1.95x height, slightly widened ventrally; clypeus separated

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 45

from face by a weak crease, width 1. 7x height, apical margin truncate, lack-

ing median emargination, surface flattened, lightly shagreened; malar space

1.2x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible weakly concave; 22 fla-

gellar segments; sense cones sparse, Separated by more than the width of a

cone, segments 10 to apex flattened ventrally, devoid of sense cones, and

covered with a very short dense pile; thorax lightly shagreened and nearly im-

punctate; prepectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural cari-

na very low; propodeum lacking carinae, shagreened; areolet lacking; nervu-

lus far distad of basal vein; basal vein straight; nervellus broken well below

middle; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora shagreened

and obscurely punctate; no setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen roun-

ded dorsally, compressed at apex; petiole length 1. 25x width, evenly sha-

greened; segment 2 slightly wider than long, thyridium rather deep and wide;

abdomen evenly shagreened and nearly glabrous; epipleura distinct on segment

2 and base of 3; spiracle dorsad of suture on tergite 2, posterior to end of su-

ture on 3. |

Black. Cream on narrow inner orbital bar, small spot in malar space,

clypeus, mandible, palpi, scape and pedicel ventrally; dark brown on flagel-

lum; cream on long recurved humeral bar, tegula, most of scutellum and post-

scutellum, proepisternum, prepectus, wide longitudinal stripe on lower meso-

pleurum, and most of metapleurum; rufous on remainder of thorax and propo-

deum; legs extensively cream; fuscous on lateral spot on hind coxa, first hind

trochanter, narrow apical dorsal stripes on all femora, ventral stripe on

middle femur, basal annulus on hind femur, dorsal stripes on fore and middle

tibiae, basal and apical bands and dorsal spot on medial white annulus on hind

tibia, and all tarsi; abdomen cream ventrally.

Male: Unknown.

This is a highly distinctive species. It is recognizable by the shape of the

clypeus, the absence of the areolet, the straight basal vein and distal position

of the nervulus, the flattened ventral surface of the distal half of the flagellum,

the lack of sense cones, and the color of the legs and thorax.

Type: 9, Nova Teutonia, 279 11’ S., 52° 23’ W., Brazil, at 300-500 m.,

Jan. 13, 1960, F. Plaumann (Ottawa).

23. Homotropus trachysoma, new species

(Figure 35)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 5.3 mm. (5.0 mm.); head shagreened and obscurely punctate;

occipital carina rounded medially; vertex not impressed medially; OOC 1. 8x

(1. 6x) HO; face width 1. 8x (1. 6x) height, slightly widened ventrally; clypeus

separated from face by a weak crease, width 2. 3x (2. 5x) height, apical lobes

rounded with a shallow median emargination, strongly impressed along apical

margin, shagreened; malar space 0.9x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of

mandible obliquely subtruncate; 21 (20) flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar

segments 7-14; sense cones separated by more than the width of a cone; thorax

heavily shagreened except on speculum, heavily punctate on mesoscutum; pre-

pectal carina complete; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural carina low; pro-

podeum lacking carinae, coarsely shagreened, more polished low on petiolar

area; areolet present, square, sessile, second intercubitus unpigmented; ner-

vulus slightly distad of basal vein; nervellus broken at middle; 3 hamuli on

46 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

costellan fold; legs slender; coxae and femora shagreened and obscurely punc-

tate; few setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen rounded dorsally, grad-

ually narrowed at apex; petiole length 1. 6x (1. 7x) width, coarsely shagreened;

segment 2 length subequal to width; abdomen dull shagreened, progressively

more polished apically; epipleura distinct on segments 2 and 3; spiracles dor-

sad of lateral sutures. !

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, scape ventrally, humeral margins in front of tegula and re-

curved to posterior 0.2 of mesoscutum where they become wider, lateral mar-

gins and apex of scutellum (or entirely), tegula, proepisternum, tip of pronotal

lobe, subtegular ridge, prepectus, lower 0.4+ of mesopleurum, and mesepi-

meron; mesosternum rufous or yellow; legs yellow on fore and middle coxae,

apically and posteriorly on hind coxa, fore and middle and second hind trochan-

ter, and ventrally at base of hind tibia; fuscous on rest of hind coxa and hind

first trochanter; rufous on rest of fore and middle legs and hind femur; dusky

at base of hind femur, dorsally and apically on hind tibia, hind tarsus and

apically on fore and middle tarsi; abdomen may be yellow at apex of petiole and

basally on segments 3, 4, and 5.

This species is recognizable by the coarse shagreening and puncturing of

the mesoscutum, the long recurved humeral bars, and the color of the legs.

Type: o, Pichinahuel, Cordillera Nahuelbuta, Arauco, Chile, at 1, 100-

1,400 m., Jan. 1-10, 1959, L. Pena (Ottawa).

Paratypes: 20°, Peillem-Pilli, Cordillera Nahuelbuta, Arauco, Chile, at

600-800 m., Jan. 19, 1954, L. Pena (Ottawa).

3. Genus SYRPHOCTONUS

(Figure 66)

Syrphoctonus Foerster, 1868. Verh. Naturh. Ver. Preuss. Rheinlande 25:

162. Type: Bassus biguttatus Gravenhorst. Designated by Viereck, 1914.

Length 3.7-8.2 mm.; head width 1. 20-1. 35x height; face width 1. 6-2. 4x

height, shagreened, obscurely punctate or impunctate, widened ventrally; cly-

peus width 1. 7-2. 75x height, separated from face by a weak crease, basal

margin elevated, apical margin weakly lobed or subtruncate, shallowly emar-

ginate medially, flattened with a median vertical sulcus; 18-25 flagellar seg-

ments; antenna subequal to wing length; sense cones usually separated by less

than the width of a cone; tyloids lacking; first flagellar segment length 3. 8-5. 0x

greatest diameter; vertex usually not impressed medially; occipital carina

rounded or angulate medially; OOC 0.9-1. 8x HO; malar space 0.9-1.4x basal

width of mandible; female face not marked with yellow inner orbits; thorax

length 1. 8-2.1x width of mesoscutum, shagreened; notaulus lacking; prepectal

carina complete; sternaulus shallow; mesosternal suture shallow; propodeum

lacking carinae, shagreened; wing areolet lacking; nervulus distad of basal

vein; nervellus broken below middle; 2-3 hamuli on costellan fold; second ab-

_scissa of subdiscoideus slightly shorter than first abscissa; hind tibia slightly

longer than thorax length; inner spur on hind tibia 0.5-0.67x length of hind

basitarsus; hind tibia usually with many setae on lateral surface; abdomen

rounded dorsally and tapered apically; caudal margin of each tergum transverse

or slightly convex; petiole in dorsal view short rectangular, dorsal carinae

lacking; second and third segments wider than long; epipleura distinct on seg-

ment 2 and basal 0.5+ of 3; spiracles usually dorsad of sutures.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 47

Key to the Neotropic species of Syrphoctonus

Females

(Females of concavus, paulus, hidalgoensis,

and caccabatus are unknown. )

Abdomen extensively marked with yellow from segment 3 to.apex; hind

coxa partially blackened’... . ... . +... 5. flavicauda, new species

Abdomen Diack: bind Coxe rulous. 5 es ie eae, a se ete ae ee 2

Hind tibia white at base, black on remainder of length; clypeus usually

black; face width 2.1-2.3x height; stigma black ventrally.

1. flavolineatus Gravenhorst

Hind tibia entirely dusky-rufous; clypeus yellow-rufous; face width 1. 7-

1.9x height; stigma white ventrally. 2. erythromelas, new species

Males

Head strongly concave behind ocelli; OOC 0.9x HO; mesoscutum polished

and obscurely shagreened; scutellum yellow on lateral and apical mar-

Sins kG ee a eee 6. concavus, new species

Head not strongly concave behind ocelli; OOC 1.2-1. 8x HO; mesoscutum

strongly shagreened; scutellum black, or yellow at apex. ...... 2

Abdomen extensively marked with yellow from segment 2 or 3 to apex;

hind femur extensively colored with pale yellow.

5. flavicauda, new species

Abdomen black, occasionally spotted or banded with yellow at bases of

medial segments: hind femur rufous or black. ..0600 2 3

Legs entirely black; face marked with black and yellow.

7. caccabatus, new species

Legs marked with rufous or yellow; face entirely yellow........ “

Hind tibia dusky rufous; hind coxa rufous; prepectus and usually most of

mesopleurum black; face punctate. . . 2. erythromelas, new species

Hind tibia pale at base and sometimes ventrally, remainder black; hind

coxa black and yellow or mostly yellow; prepectus and mesopleurum ex-

tensively marked with yellow; face impunctate ............ 5

Discoidella lacking; hind femur fuscous at base and apex and rufous medial-

ly; humeral bar lacking; size 3.5-3.8 mm. 4. paulus, new species

Discoidella strong; hind femur rufous and yellow; humeral bar usually

present; size 5.1-6. 8 mim. oe ae ee 6

Hind coxa mostly rufous and yellow; lower mesopleurum and mesosternum

yellow; face width 2.3-2.4x height; petiole length 1. 3-1. 4x width.

1. flavolineatus Gravenhorst

Hind coxa extensively blackened; a yellow stripe on lower mesopleurum,

black on mesosternum; face width 1. 9x height; petiole length 1. 8x width.

3. hidalgoensis, new species

48 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

1. Syrphoctonus flavolineatus Gravenhorst

(Figure 36)

Bassus flavolineatus Gravenhorst, 1829. Ichneum. Europeae 3:337. 92. Type:

2, Netley, England (lost). 7

Bassus interruptus Holmgren, 1856. Svenska Vet. -Akad. Handl. (n.s.) 1: 359.

o. Type: o, Sweden (Stockholm).

Bassus bimaculatus Holmgren, 1856. Svenska Vet. Ss Handl. (n.s.) 1:

360. o. Type: o, Sweden (Stockholm).

Bassus agilis Cresson, 1868. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 2:111. o%. Type: ¢&,

Illinois (Philadelphia). |

Bassus frontalis Cresson, 1868. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 2:111. 2. Type:

2, Illinois (Philadelphia).

Mesoleius junctus Provancher, 1883. Nat. Canad. 14:10. ‘‘o’’=9. Type: Q,

Quebec (Quebec).

Female: 3.7-5.7 mm.; head shagreened, obscurely punctate on face and

gena; OOC 1.3-1.5x HO; face width 2.1-2.3x height, moderately widened

ventrally; clypeus width 1.9-2.5x height, apical lobes weakly rounded with a

shallow median emargination, flattened with a median vertical sulcus, sha-

greened; malar space 0.9-1.1x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandi-

ble truncate; 21-25 flagellar segments, first segment length 3.5-5.0x width;

sense cones separated by the width of a cone, abundant on segment one, con-

spicuous; flagellum covered with a short dense pile; thorax shagreened, pol-

ished posteriorly on mesopleurum, obscurely punctate on mesoscutum, pre-

pectus, low on mesopleurum, and on mesosternum; pleural carina indistinct;

propodeum lacking carinae, evenly shagreened; 2-3 hamuli on costellan fold;

legs slender; coxae and femora shagreened and obscurely punctate; numerous

setae on external face of hind tibia; hind tibia apically compressed; abdomen

rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed apically; petiole stout rectangular,

length 1.2-1.5x width, margins slightly divergent behind spiracles, sha-

greened, submedian carinae from base to middle; segment 2 much wider than

long, strongly striate basally; rest of abdomen shagreened, more polished

apically, weakly striate at base of segment 3; abdomen sparsely pubescent;

epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.7 of 3, inflexed.

Black. Cream-yellow medially on mandible, palpi, median spot on face,

humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, spot under fore wing, mesepimeron,

tips of scutellum and postscutellum, and capillary lines between wings; wings

dusky hyaline; legs largely rufous; paler on fore trochanters; dusky basally on

fore coxa, fore and middle tarsi; fuscous on hind tibia, except at base, and

hind tarsus; cream at base of hind tibia.

Occasionally the following variations occur: scutellum and postscutellum

black; face black; faintly rufous on thoracic pleura; tawny at base of third ab-

dominal segment; rufous tinge along apical margins of median abdominal seg-

ments; and humeral bar reduced or lacking.

Male: 5.1-6.5 mm.; OOC 1.3-1.4x HO; face width 2.3-2.4x height, much

widened ventrally; clypeus width 2.3x height; malar space 1.1-1.2x basal

width of mandible; 21-24, rarely 19, 20, or 25 flagellar segments; tyloids

lacking; hairs of flagellum short and inclined dorsally, largely lacking ven-

trally; sense cones very abundant, closer together than the width of a cone;

petiole length 1.3-1.4x width; numerous short hairs scattered over abdomen.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 49

Black. Lemon-yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, malar space and

lower gena, inner orbit, antenna ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, apical spot

on scutellum, tip of postscutellum, capillary lines between wings, proepister-

num, posterior margin of pronotal lobe, spot under fore wing, mesepimeron,

prepectus, mesosternum, and lower 0.5 of mesopleurum; legs paler than in fe-

male; lemon-yellow on all coxae and trochanters, fore and middle femora, ven-

trally on tibiae and tarsi, ventrally on hind femur, basally and ventrally on

hind tibia; rufous posteriorly on hind coxa, most of hind femur; dusky dorsally —

on fore and middle tibiae and tarsi; fuscous on most of hind tibia and all of hind

tarsus; cream spots or bands at bases of abdominal segments 3-7, ventrally on

median area.

Specimens: 2, Ambuto, Ecuador, at 2,600 m., Dec., 1956, J. Foerster

(Ottawa). 9, San Pedro Iturbide, 32+ km. west of Linares, Mexico, Oct. 26,

1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). |

This species occurs in the Hudsonian, Canadian, Transition, and Upper

Austral zones of the Nearctic region, the Neotropic region, as well as in

Europe and Asia.

2. Syrphoctonus erythromelas, new species

(Figures 37, 59, and 64)

Female: 4.0 mm. (4.3 mm.); head shagreened, more polished on gena,

finely punctate on face, more obscurely on gena; gena not inflated; occipital

carina rounded medially; OOC 1. 3x (1. 6x) HO; face width 1. 7x (1. 9x) height,

parallel margined; clypeus width 1. 8x (2.0x) height, apical margin truncate,

with a median vertical sulcus, shagreened; malar space 1. 0x basal width of

mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 21 flagellar segments;

sense cones abundant, separated by more than the width of a cone; thorax sha-

greened, more polished around speculum; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural

carina well developed; propodeum shagreened; nervulus far distad of basal

vein; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; legs stout; coxae and femora shagreened and

obscurely punctate; abdomen rounded dorsally, progressively narrowed apical-

ly; petiole length 1. 2x (1.0x) width, shagreened with some weak longitudinal

striations; segment 2 wider than long, shagreened and finely striate; segment

3 shagreened and striate on basal 0.5; rest of abdomen largely polished; epi-

pleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3; spiracle of segment 2 dorsad

of suture, of segment 3 posterior to end of suture.

Black. Cream on mandible and palpi; yellow-rufous on clypeus; rufous on

flagellum; pale yellow on tegula, faint humeral bar, tip of pronotal lobe, tip

of mesepimeron, stigma ventrally and most veins ventrally; legs largely ru-

fous, more dusky apically on hind tibia and on hind tarsus.

Male: 4.7 mm. ; face width 1. 8-1.9x height; clypeus width 2.0-2.2x height;

malar space 1.0-1.1x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.2-1.3x HO; 21 flagellar

segments; sense cones separated by less than the width of a cone; petiole

length 1.1-1.3x width. :

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi, scape and pedicel ventrally; thcrax as in female but usually with yellow on

the humeral bar, a spot on the mesopleurum before middle coxa, more or less

of the prepectus, and the tip of the proepisternum.

This species is recognizable by the rufous hind tibia, the striations on the

first 3 abdominal segments, the dark color of the thorax, the punctations on

50 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

the face, the pale color ventrally on the stigma, and the abundance of setae on

the hind tibia.

Type: 2, Tolhuaca, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 8- He 1962, L. Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: 30%, 19, Butamalal, Arauco, Chile, Feb. 12 and 21, 1953, L.

Pena (Ottawa). o’, Bahia Municiones, Magallanes, Chile, Dec. 10, 1960, L.

Pena (Townes). 9, Caramavida, Arauco, Chile, Dec. 31, 1953, L. Pena

(Ottawa). 30%, 19, El Coigo, Curico, Chile, Oct. and Nov., 1959, L. Pena

(Ottawa). 9, Las Cabras, Chile, at 1,100 m., Dec. 10-23, 1954, L. Pena

(Ottawa). o%, 9, Las Trancas, Nuble, Chile, Jan. 17, 1953, and March 9,

1952, L. Pena (Ottawa). 30%, 29, Pichinahuel, Cordillera Nahuelbuta, Arauco,

Chile, at 1,100-1,400 m., Jan. 31, 1954, Feb. 12, 1953, and Dec. 23-31,

1958, L. Pena (Ottawa). o, 9, Tolhuaca, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 8-11, 1962,

L. Pena (Townes). |

3. Syrphoctonus hidalgoensis, new species

(Figure 38)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 5.2 mm.; head shiny shagreened; gena slightly inflated; occipital

carina rounded medially; OOC 1.4x HO; face width 1.9x height, widened ven-

trally; clypeus width 2.x height, apical margin truncate, with a median verti-

cal sulcus, shagreened; malar space 1.1x basal width of mandible; upper tooth

of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 21 flagellar segments; sense cones very

abundant, closer together than the width of a cone; hairs on flagellum sparse,

short and erect; thorax shiny shagreened; pleural carina low; propodeum even-

ly shagreened, more polished low on petiolar area; nervulus distad of basal

vein; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; coxae and femora weakly shagreened and ob-

scurely punctate; a few weak setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen even-

ly shagreened, more polished apically; petiole length 1. 8x width; second seg-

ment length subequal to width; abdomen sparsely pubescent; epipleura distinct

on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3; spiracle of 2 dorsad of suture, of 3 posterior

to end of suture. ee

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, antenna ventrally, large humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal

lobe, tip of proepisternum, prepectus, subtegular ridge, mesepimeron, longi-

tudinal stripe on lower mesopleurum; black on hind coxa except for apex; fus-

cous posteriorly and at apex of hind tibia, hind tarsus, posterior stripe on fore

and middle femora and tibiae; hind femur rufous; rest of legs yellow; yellow on

2 small spots at base of segment 3, band at base of segment 4, and ventral

surface.

This species is distinctive in its black hind coxa and the yellow stripe on

the mesopleurum.

=f e: o, Hidalgo National Park, State of Mexico, Mexico, at 3,000 m.

Oct. ~ 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

4, Syrphoctonus paulus, new species

(Figure 39)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 3.5 mm. (3.8 mm.); head shagreened, more polished and obscurely

punctate on gena; gena not inflated; vertex shallowly impressed medially;

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae D1

occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1. 25x (1. 4x) HO; face width 1. 6x

height, slightly widened ventrally; clypeus width 1.9x height, apical margin

truncate, with a weak median vertical sulcus, lightly shagreened; malar space

1.3x (1.1x) basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtrun-

- cate; 20 (18) flagellar segments; sense cones very abundant, closer together

than the width of a cone; thorax shagreened, more polished on speculum and

pronotal lobe; pleural carina low; propodeum evenly shagreened; discoidella

lacking; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; coxae and femora weakly shagreened and

obscurely punctate; no setae on external face of hind tibia; petiole length 1. 5x

(1.4x) width, a pair of submedian dorsal carinae arising at base and extending

to apex, shagreened with several longitudinal striae laterad of main carinae;

segment 2 length slightly greater than width, striate on basal 0.6 with some

light shagreen; remainder of abdomen polished; abdominal pubescence sparse;

epipleura distinct on segments 2, 3, and basal 0.5 of 4; spiracles dorsad of

sutures.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, scape and pedicel and first flagellar segment ventrally, tegu-

la except for posterior fuscous spot, tip of pronotal lobe, tip of proepisternum,

subtegular ridge, prepectus, longitudinal stripe on lower mesopleurum, and

mesepimeron; mostly yellow on fore and middle legs, more dusky dorsally on

middle tibia and tarsus; yellow on hind coxa except for posterior fuscous ~

stripe; or mostly black on specimen from Ecuador; fuscous on hind trochan-

ters, base and apex of hind femur, apex of hind tibia, all of hind tarsus; most-

ly rufous on rest of hind femur and tibia.

This species is distinctive in the lack of the discoidella, the absence of

setae on the external face of the hind tibia, the longitudinal stripe on the male

mesopleurum, the lack of the humeral bar, and the color of the hind legs.

Type: o, Orizaba, Mexico, at 2,500 ft., Feb. 13, 1954, R. Dreisbach

(Townes). .

Paratypes: o’, Ambato, Ecuador, at 2,600 m., Dec., 1956, J. Foerster

(Ottawa). o%, Orizaba, Mexico, at 2,500 ft., Feb. 13, 1954, R. Dreisbach

(Townes). |

5. Syrphoctonus flavicauda, new species

(Figure 40)

Female: 5.5 mm. (7.3 mm.); head evenly shagreened, mostly impunc-

tate; gena not inflated; vertex very shallowly impressed medially; occipital

carina rounded medially; OOC 1. 8x (1. 6x) HO; face width 2. 0x (1. 9x) height,

widened ventrally; clypeus width 2.1x (2. 2x) height, apical margin truncate

with a median vertical sulcus, shagreened; malar space 1.1x (0. 9x) basal

width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 22 (23) fla-

gellar segments; sense cones separated by more than the width of a cone, con-

spicuous; thorax shagreened, more polished on speculum; obscurely punctate -

on anterior mesoscutum; pleural carina well developed; propodeum evenly sha-

greened; nervulus far distad of basal vein; nervellus broken well below middle;

3 hamuli on costellan fold; legs stout; coxae and femora shagreened and ob-

scurely punctate; few setae on external face of hind tibia; abdomen shagreened;

petiole length 1. 6x (1.4x) width, a strong lateral carina from spiracle to apex;

segment 2 slightly wider than long, striate medially at base; segment 3 striate

medially at base; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.6 of segment 3;

spiracles dorsad of sutures. :

52 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Black. Yellow on median facial spot, clypeus, mandible, palpi, very ©

small humeral bar, tip of scutellum, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular

ridge, tip of mesepimeron, longitudinal stripe on lower mesopleurum; stigma

whitish below, more dusky above; yellow on fore and middle coxae, except

fuscous at extreme bases; yellow at apex and angles of hind coxa, trochanters,

most of femora and tibiae except for dorsal dusky stripes; tarsi more dusky;

black on basal 0.7 of hind coxa; yellow-orange at apex of petiole, more or less

of remaining segments; irregular fuscous spotting on segments 2, 3, and 4.

One specimen from Punta Arenas has the thorax mostly blackened and the yel-

low-orange of the abdomen greatly reduced medially on each segment.

Male: 5.0-6.0 mm.; OOC 1.5x HO; 22-23 flagellar segments; sense cones

abundant, closer together than the width of a cone; petiole length 1. 65-1. 85x

width. :

Black. Cream-yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, cly-

peus, mandible, palpi, antenna ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, scutellum,

posterior 0.54 of pronotal lobe, most of proepisternum, subtegular ridge, pre-

pectus, lower 0.5+ of mesopleurum, most of mesosternum, mesepimeron,

spot on metapleurum; legs cream; dusky stripe on fore and middle femora and

all tibiae; dusky on all tarsi; yellow at apex of abdominal segment one, apical

0.5 of segments 2 and 3, and all of remaining segments. One specimen from

Los Robles has the yellow of the thorax somewhat reduced, the hind coxa par-

tially blackened, and the yellow on the abdomen reduced to the base and apex

of the segments.

This species is recognizable by the extensive yellow markings of the abdo-

men, the coloring of the legs, the coloring of the thorax, and the rather slen-

der petiole. |

Type: 2, Punta Arenas, Magallanes, Chile, Feb. 22, 1962,:T. Cehalovick

(Townes).

Paratypes: 2, Bio-Bio, Salto del Abanico, Chile, Dec. 30, 1950, Ross &

Michelbacher (San Francisco). o’, Los Robles, Magallanes, Chile, Jan. 22,

1961, T. Cehalovick (Townes). o, 9, Pichinahuel, Cordillera Nahuelbuta,

Arauco, Chile, Jan. 1-10, 1959; at 1,100-1,400 m., Jan. 31, 1954, L. Pena

(Ottawa). 9, 5 km. northwest of Punta Arenas, Chile, Feb. 26, 1959, J. F.

G. Clarke (Washington). o, Tolhuaca, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 8-11, 1962,

L. Pena (Townes). |

6. Syrphoctonus concavus, new species

(Figures 41 and 63)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 3.7 mm.; head evenly shagreened and impunctate on face and frons,

more polished and obscurely punctate on gena; vertex abruptly sloping imme-

diately behind ocelli, strongly concave medially; occipital carina rather angu-

late medially; OOC 0.9x HO; face width 1. 6x height, parallel margined; cly-

peus width 2. 75x height, apical margin truncate, median sulcus lacking, sha-

greened; malar space 0.9x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible

obliquely subtruncate; 20 flagellar segments; sense cones separated by more

than the width of a cone, inconspicuous; thorax shiny shagreened, very finely

on mesoscutum; pleural carina lacking; propodeum evenly shagreened; nervu-

lus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken well below middle; 2 hamuli on cos-

tellan fold; legs short and rather stout; coxae and femora shagreened; setae

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 53

lacking from external face of hind tibia; abdomen shagreened, more polished

apically; petiole length 1.5x width, a strong lateral carina from spiracle to

apex; segment 2 slightly wider than long; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and

basal 0.3 of segment 3; spiracles dorsad of sutures.

Black. Cream on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, palpi, scape

and pedicel ventrally, lateral and apical margins of scutellum, tegula, tip of

proepisternum, tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular ridge, tip of mesepimeron,

prepectus, longitudinal stripe on lower mesopleurum; cream on fore and mid-

dle coxae and trochanters, apically and posteriorly on hind coxa, and second

hind trochanter; tawny-rufous on rest of fore and middle legs, apical 0.5 of

hind femur, ventrally on basal 0.5 of hind tibia; fuscous on rest of hind coxa,

basal 0.5 of hind femur, dorsally and apically on hind tibia, and hind tarsus.

This species is recognizable by the strong concavity on the rear of the

head, the nearly polished mesoscutum, the absence of a medial sulcus on the

clypeus, the widely spaced sense cones of the antenna, and the color of the

hind legs.

Type: o, Quincemil, near Marcapta, Peru, at 750 m., Sept. 1962, L.

Pena (Townes).

7. Syrphoctonus caccabatus, new species

(Figure 42)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 4.3 mm.; head roughly shagreened, obscurely punctate on gena;

gena not inflated; vertex shallowly impressed medially; occipital carina nar-

rowly rounded medially; OOC 1.55x HO; face width 1. 7x height, slightly wid-

ened ventrally; clypeus width 2.0x height, apical margin weakly lobed witha

very shallow median emargination, heavily shagreened; malar space 1. 0x

basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 21 fla-

gellar segments; sense cones separated by the width of a cone; thorax sha-

greened, more polished on speculum; pleural carina low; propodeum roughly

shagreened; discoidella present; 2 hamuli on costellan fold; coxae and femora

shagreened and obscurely punctate; few setae on external face of hind tibia;

petiole length 1.2x width, a weak medial depression extending to apex, sha-

greened, weakly rugulose laterally behind spiracle; segment 2 wider than long,

shagreened, weakly striate medially at extreme base; remainder of abdomen

shagreened, progressively more polished apically; abdominal pubescence

sparse; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3; spiracles dorsad of

sutures.

Black. Yellow on medial facial spot, triangular spot from lower orbit to

clypeus and into malar space, lower half of clypeus, and mandible; remainder

of head, thorax, abdomen, and legs black except yellow on apex of fore coxa

and on fore trochanters.

This species is recognizable by the extensive black coloration of the thorax,

abdomen, and legs, and the color pattern of the male face.

Type: o&, Chulumani, Yungas, Bolivia, at 1,700 m., Dec. 19-20, 1953,

L. Pena (Ottawa).

54 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

4. Genus PROMETHES

(Figure 67)

Promethes Foerster, 1868. Verh. Naturh. Ver. Preuss. Rheinlande 25: 162.

Type: Bassus sulcator Gravenhorst. Included by Woldstedt, 1877.

Liopsis Foerster, 1868. Verh. Naturh. Ver. Preuss. Rheinlande 25: 162.

Type: Bassus sulcator Gravenhorst. Designated by Viereck, 1912.

Promethus Thomson, 1890. Opusc. Ent. 14:1475. Emendation.

Length 4.0-10.2 mm.; head transverse, width 1.2-1.4x height, narrowed

on gena; face width 1.4-2.1x height, polished, usually impunctate, a pair of

submedian vertical depressions from clypeus to antennal fossae; clypeus width

1.6-2.1x height, separated from face by a shallow depression, elevated at

base, flattened to apical margin which is slightly upturned, apical lobes nar-

rowly rounded with a shallow median emargination, polished; 18-25 flagellar

segments, antenna subequal to, or shorter than wing length; sense cones usual-

ly separated by more than the width of a cone; tyloids present on male antenna,

various in number and distribution; length of first flagellar segment 3. 7-6. 0x

greatest diameter; occipital carina rounded medially; vertex shallowly, or not

impressed medially; malar space 0.6-1.2x basal width of mandible; face of fe-

male black on inner orbit; thorax length 1. 6-2.1x width of mesoscutum, pol-

ished and variably punctate; notaulus present and deep; prepectal carina com-

plete; sternaulus shallow; mesosternal suture shallow; propodeum strongly

carinate; wing areolet lacking; nervulus usually distad of basal vein; 1-4 hamu-

li on costellan fold; second abscissa of subdiscoideus much shorter than first

abscissa; inner spur on hind tibia 0.31-0.44x length of hind basitarsus; hind

tibia lacking setae on external face; hairs internally at apex of hind tibia usu-

ally flattened and scale-like; abdomen compressed apically, sometimes strong-

ly so; caudal margin of each tergum transverse or slightly convex; petiole in

dorsal view slender rectangular, length 1.4-2.2x width, dorsal carinae lacking

or weak; segment 2 longer than wide usually; epipleura distinct on segment 2

and more or less of 3; spiracle of segment 2 dorsad of suture, of segment 3

ventrad of suture in epipleurum. :

Promethes is most closely related to Sussaba. They differ by the following

points: Promethes has the clypeus weakly rounded on the apical lobes; the

notaulus is strongly developed; the spiracle of abdominal segment 2 is dorsad

of the lateral suture, and the spiracle of segment 3 is ventrad of the suture.

1. Promethes dolosus, new species

(Figures 43 and 60)

Female: 5.2 mm. (5.9 mm.); head polished, obscurely punctate on gena;

occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 0. 8x (0. 9x) HO; face width 1. 6x (1. 7x)

height, parallel margined; clypeus width 1. 8x (1. 7x) height, apical lobes round-

ed with a shallow median emargination, apical margin slightly upturned, pol-

ished; malar space 0.9x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible ob-

liquely subtruncate; 23 (22) flagellar segments; thorax polished, deeply and

closely punctate on mesoscutum, more obscurely punctate on rest of thorax,

except mostly impunctate around speculum; notaulus deep on basal 0.25 of

mesoscutum; prepectal carina complete; pleural carina strong; propodeum

mostly polished, bearing strong basal, lateral, and petiolar carinae; nervulus

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 20

opposite basal vein; nervellus broken at middle; one hamulus on costellan fold;

legs slender; coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; hairs at apex

of hind tibia flattened scale-like; abdomen progressively narrowed from base

of segment 3 to apex of abdomen; petiole slender, length 2.1x (1. 8x) width,

finely striate longitudinally, a weak lateral carina behind spiracle to apex; seg-

ment 2 longer than wide, finely striate on basal 0.4; remainder of abdomen

polished and almost glabrous; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0. 3 of

3. :

Black. Yellow on facial patch below antennal fossae, clypeus except for

dusky spots on lateral lobes, mandible, palpi, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe,

subtegular ridge; legs largely rufous, yellow on fore and middle coxae, apical

0.4 of hind coxa, all trochanters; black on basal 0.6 of hind coxa; dusky at

base and apex of hind tibia, apical 0.5-0.7 of hind basitarsus, and remaining

segments of hind tarsus; paler on medial portion of hind tibia and base of hind

basitarsus; rufous on thyridium, apical margin of segment 2, and basal corner

of 3. The apical margin of segment 3 and basal corners of 4 may be rufous.

Male: 4.7-6.0 mm.; clypeus width 1. 8-2.0x height; 21-23 flagellar seg-

ments; tyloids on flagellar segments 7-10; malar space 0. 8x basal width of

mandible; OOC 0.9-1.0x HO; nervellus broken at or below middle; petiole

length 2.1-2.4x width; abdominal segments from segment 5 to apex heavily

pubescent; segment 2 striate on basal 0.3-0. 7.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus, mandible, pal-

pi; thorax and legs as in female; rufous on thyridium and apical margins of

abdominal segments 2 and 3; yellow spots at basal corners of segments 3, 4,

and 5, or these united as basal bands.

This species is distinguished from the other species of Promethes by the

heavily punctate mesoscutum, the color of the hind legs, and the abdominal

color.

Type: 9, km. 185.5, Tuxtepec-Oaxaca Rd., Oaxaca, Mexico, at 2,200 m.,

Oct. 22, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

Paratypes: 40°, 19, Cerro Pelon, Oaxaca, 128 km. southwest of Tuxtepec,

Mexico, at 3,000 m., Oct. 22, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). 310%, 29,

km. 185.5, Tuxtepec-Oaxaca Rd., Oaxaca, Mexico, at 2,200 m., Oct. 22,

1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). :

5. Genus SUSSABA

(Figure 68)

Sussaba Cameron, 1909. Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 19:728. Type:

(Sussaba bicarinata Cameron) = pulchella Holmgren. Monobasic.

Length 3.7-6.7 mm.; head transverse, width 1.15-1.4x height, narrowed

on gena; face width 1.5-2.1x height, polished except in ruzda, a pair of sub-

median vertical depressions from clypeus to antennal fossae; clypeus width

1.4-2.3x height, usually separated from face by a definite suture, elevated at

base, flattened to apical margin which is slightly upturned, apical lobes sub-

truncate or angulate, medially sulcate, usually polished; 18-24 flagellar seg-

ments, subequal to wing length; sense cones usually separated by more than

the width of a cone; tyloids present on male antenna, various in number and

distribution; length of first flagellar segment 2. 8-5. 3x greatest diameter; oc-

cipital carina rounded medially, but occasionally angulate; malar space 0. 7-

1. 6x basal width of mandible; face of female usually lacking yellow inner orbit;

56 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

thorax length 1. 75-2.2x width of mesonotum, polished and punctate or sha-

greened; notaulus lacking or replaced by a rugose line; prepectal carina com-

plete; sternaulus shallow or lacking; mesosternal suture shallow; pleural cari-

na strong; propodeum strongly carinate in most species; wing areolet lacking;

nervulus usually opposite, less often distad of, basal vein; nervellus broken

below the middle, seldom at the middle; one hamulus on costellan fold; second

abscissa of subdiscoideus much shorter than first abscissa; hind tibia usually

shorter than thorax length; inner spur of hind tibia 0.31-0.52x length of hind

basitarsus; hind tibia lacking setae on external face; hairs internally at apex

of hind tibia not flattened scale-like; abdomen rounded dorsally, usually apical-

ly compressed in female, sometimes strongly so; caudal margin of each ter-

gum transverse or slightly convex; petiole in dorsal view rectangular, length

1.2-2.5x width, dorsal carinae weak or lacking; abdominal segment 2 usually

wider than long, but longer than wide occasionally; epipleura distinct on seg-

ment 2 and base of 3; spiracles of abdominal segments 2 and 3 ventrad of

lateral sutures, in epipleura.

Sussaba is most closely related to Promethes, from which it may be dis-

tinguished by the following features: the clypeus is angulate or subtruncate

apically; the malar space tends to be relatively wider; the notaulus is lacking;

one hamulus occurs on the costellan fold of each wing; and the spiracles of ab-

dominal segments 2 and 3 lie in the epipleura ventrad of the lateral sutures.

Key to the Neotropic species of Sussaba

Females

(Females of callosa, flavopicta, and ruida are unknown. )

1. Abdomen red on most of segments 3 and 4; OOC 1.8-2.0x HO..... 2

Abdomen black, or black marked with yellow; OO0C 1.2-1.8x HO... 3

2. Abdominal segments 3 and 4 lacking yellow spots at basal corners; humeral

Dar Soa) OF laced ie ee 2. balteata, new species

Abdominal segments 3 and 4 with yellow spots at basal corners; humeral

VAT PA a a oe es 9. spilota, new species

3. Abdomen striate on most of segment 2 and on basal 0.3-0.6 of segment 3;

petiolar area of propodeum scabrous; mesoscutum coarsely punctate.

Pe ee ee Pe ye ee a ei Se ae

Abdomen striate on basal 0.5-0.7 of segment 2, smooth on segment 3;

petiolar area of propodeum shagreened; mesoscutum finely to obscurely

PUNCERCe se ce yp ee ON eee Dee es ee ee by She eee 6 5

4, Median facial spot small; humeral bar very small or absent; abdominal

segment 2 and basal 0.7 of 3 rather deeply striate; abdomen rufous

laterally and on apical margins of segments 2, 3, and 4; rufous on hind

tibia and hind tarsus; OOC 1.8x HO. .... 6. insculpta, new species

Median facial spot large; humeral bar large; abdominal segment 2 and

basal 0.3 of 3 weakly striate; abdomen yellow laterally and apically on

segments 3-7; fuscous on hind tibia dorsally and on hind tarsus; OOC

Pe ee I Oa eke ph tke a acs 7. sulfurea, new species

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 57

Propodeal carinae rather weak; inner orbit with broad yellow band; meso-

scutum finely punctate; hind coxa black at base, yellow at angles and

BCR Re ee ye OR es ry le te 3. rohweri Brues

Propodeal carinae strong; inner orbit with small yellow dot; mesoscutum

almost impunctate; hind coxa almost entirely black.

4. tertia, new species

Males

(The maie of spilota is unknown. )

Face black with yellow inner orbits and medial spot; coxae largely black.

C aoe Ce Somer aaa Seem Ye Secs SA DOTEN Suen Sania! aa Ariki! Oe, Yates ea Oia MS femme es eee aN tk Seareax Leeeod Gabe eons ada. cameyh Namo Se Me eas, Valais vee ble Seto “Sage eee Bares on”)

Face lightly shagreened; mesoscutum lightly shagreened; abdomen sha-

greened on segments 1-4; abdomen rufous on apical margins of segments

2, OF BBS CE eee ee er ae 8. ruida, new species

Face polished; mesoscutum mostly polished and punctate; abdomen various-

ly sculptured, but not shagreened on segments 1-4; abdomen black,

marked with yellow spots in Abit rufous on all of segments 2 and 3 in

DOERR OA EE OO ee on ee a ee a 3

Orbital bar wedge-shaped on lower 0.5 of eye; small humeral bar present;

hind femur blackened; scape yellow ventrally; mesoscutum sparsely punc-

tate; OOC 2, 3-1. Fe HO os ee eae 4. tertia, new species

Orbital bar L-shaped, filling the malar space; humeral bar lacking; hind

femur entirely rufous, or black at base ventrally; scape black or yellow

ventrally; mesoscutum abundantly punctate; OOC 1.5-2.0x HO. ...4

Abdomen rufous at apex of segment 2, most of segments 3 and 4.

| 2. balteata, new species

Abdomen BIACK' CORRAL tee ae a TF ICI i ity Beis 9)

Fore and middle coxae black; OOC 1. 75-2.0x HO; petiole length 1.5-1.55x

width; clypeus width 1. 6x height; tyloids on flagellar segments 6-10.

5. flavopicta, new species

Fore and middle coxae black at base and yellow on remainder; OOC 1.5-

1.75x HO; petiole length 1. 8x width; clypeus width 1. 8-1. 9x height; ty-

loids on flagellar segments 6-9, rarely on 10.

6. insculpta, new species

Abdominal segment 3 polished; hind coxa blackened on basal 0.6 except

LOY QACTER Oe ere ge aie Bea ea 3. rohweri Brues

Abdominal segment 3 striate or shagreened on basal 0.3; hind coxa yellow,

with black usually only at base (but sometimes mostly black in sulfurea).

Tyloids on flagellar segments 6-8 or 9; abdomen rufous on apical margins

of segments 2-4, and with large basal yellow spots on segments 3-5;

OOC EF BaF TI ee es ae a oe “1. callosa, new species

58 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

Tyloids on flagellar segments 6-10 or 11; abdomen black dorsally, some-

times narrowly margined apically with rufous; OOC 1.4-1.55x HO.

oF sulturea, new species

1. Sussaba callosa, new species

(Figure 44)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 4.4 mm.; head polished: occipital carina rounded medially; OOC |

1.0x (1. 1x) HO; face width 1. 6x height, parallel margined; clypeus width 1. 8x

(1. 9x) height, apical lobes subtruncate, shallowly emarginate medially, pol-

ished; malar space 0. 8x (1. 0x) basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandi-

ble obliquely subtruncate; 23 (22) flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar seg-

ments 6-8 or 9, with a black crescentic area dorsad of each, when present on

9 then small; thorax polished, finely punctate on mesoscutum, remainder most-

ly impunctate; propodeum bearing dorsal, lateral, and petiolar carinae, basal

areas mostly polished, remainder weakly shagreened; nervulus opposite basal

vein; nervellus broken at middle; legs slender; coxae and femora polished and

obscurely punctate; abdomen rounded dorsally, gradually narrowed apically;

petiole slender, length 1.9x width, weakly shagreened and finely striate; seg-

ment 2 slightly longer than wide, striate on basal 0.7; remainder polished

and obscurely punctate; pubescence of abdomen short and abundant; epipleura

distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, antenna ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe,

tip of proepisternum, subtegular ridge, mesepimeron, prepectus; pale yellow

on all coxae and trochanters except for some fuscous on first hind trochanter;

rufous on remainder of legs, more dusky at apex of hind tibia and on hind tar- .

sus; rufous on thyridium, apical margins of segments 2, 3, and 4; yellow at

basal corners of segments 3, 4, and 5.

This species is recognizable in the male by the tyloids and black crescents

on flagellar segments 6-8 or 9, the yellow coxae, and the color of the abdomen.

Type: ¢, km. 185.5, Tuxtepec- -Oaxaca Rd., Oaxaca, Mexico, at 2, 200

m., Oct. 22, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

’Paratypes: 3c. same data as type (Townes).

2. Sussaba balteata, new species

(Figure 45)

Female: 4.2 mm.; head polished; vertex with a median groove; occipital

carina transverse medially; OOC 2.0x HO; face width 1. 8x height, parallel

margined; clypeus width 1. 8x height, apical lobes subtruncate with a shallow

median emargination, polished; malar space 1.3x basal width of mandible;

upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 20 flagellar segments; sense

cones sparse on segment one; thorax polished, finely punctate on mesoscutum,

more obscurely on lower mesopleurum; propodeum bearing strong dorsal,

lateral, and petiolar carinae, basal areas lightly shagreened,. fine wrinkling

on petiolar area; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus broken below middle;

legs slender; coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; abdomen

gradually narrowed apically; petiole length 1.4x width, evenly shagreened, a

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae , 59

lateral carina from spiracle to apex; segment 2 slightly wider than long, finely

striate on basal 0. 8+; lightly shagreened at base of segment 3; remainder of

abdomen polished and largely glabrous; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and

basal 0.3 of 3.

Black. Yellow on small facial spot below antennae, scape and pedicel

ventrally, mandible, palpi; tawny-rufous ventrally on flagellum; yellow on tegu-

la; wing veins white ventrally; legs mostly rufous; yellow on fore and middle

coxae and all trochanters; fuscous on hind coxa and extreme bases of other

coxae, partly on first hind trochanter; rufous on thyridium and apical margin

of abdominal segment 2, segment 3 except for black basal band, segment 4,

epipleura, and ventral surface. The female from Las Cabras has small yellow

humeral bars and rufous on abdominal segments 3, 4, 5, and the apex of 2.

Male: 4.2 mm.; OOC 1.5x HO; 21 flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar

segments 6-10 with black crescentic area dorsad of each tyloid, tyloid small

on segment 10; sense cones separated by less eons, the width of a cone; abdo-

men more pubescent than in female.

Black. Yellow on large medial facial spot, inner orbit extending through

malar space, clypeus, mandible, palpi; flagellum rufous ventrally; yellow on

tegula; legs as in female; abdomen as in female.

This species is distinctive in the rufous of the abdomen, the pale color

ventrally on the wing veins, the reduced punctation of the thorax, the color of

the legs, the wide separation of the hind ocellus from the occipital carina, and

the sculpturing of the abdomen.

Type: 9, Dalcahue, Chiloe Island, Chile, Jan. 17-Feb. 14, 1962, L. Pefia

(Townes). :

Paratypes: o”, Aulen, Chiloe Island, Chile, Feb. 4, 1952, L. Pena

(Ottawa). 9, Las Cabras, Cordillera Chillan, Chile, at 1,500 m., Jan. 6-31,

1963, L. Pena (Townes). o, Pudahuel, Chile, Nov. 30, 1921, E. Varas

(Cambridge). 9, Rio Gol-Gol, Osorno, Chile, March 13-19, 1955, L. Pena

(Ottawa). o', Chile, No. 190, P. Herbst (Cambridge).

3. Sussaba rohweri Brues

(Figure 46)

Promethes rohweri Brues, 1908. Bul. Wisc. Nat. Hist. Soc. 6:51. o, 9.

Lectotype: o, Florissant, Colo., June 11, 1907, S. A. Rohwer (Milwau-

kee Public Museum).

Female: 4.4-5.4 mm.; head polished, obscurely punctate on vertex and

gena; OOC 1.2-1.3x HO; face width 1.6-1. 8x height, parallel margined; clype-

us width 1.6-2.2x height, apical lobes angulate, meeting medially at an angle

of 160°, polished, a median vertical sulcus present; malar space 0.9-1.3x

basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 18-19

flagellar segments; thorax polished, obscurely punctate on mesoscutum and

mesosternum; pleural carina strong; propodeum bearing weak dorsal, lateral,

and petiolar carinae, partially polished, partially shagreened; legs slender;

coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; abdomen slender, rounded

dorsally, progressively narrowed from base of segment 3, compressed from

segment 5 to apex; petiole rectangular, length 1.5-1.8x width, margins paral-

lel behind spiracles, finely longitudinally striate, more shagreened laterally;

segment 2 longer than wide, longitudinally striate on basal 0.5-0.7, polished

60 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

apically; rest of abdomen polished and largely glabrous; epipleura distinct on

segment 2 and base of 3, sharply inflexed.

Black. Bright yellow on mandible, palpi, median facial spot, inner orbital

bar on middle 0.5 of eye, humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, spot under

fore wing, mesepimeron, spots on prepectus; legs black on much of basal 0.7

of hind coxa, extreme bases of other coxae, posterior stripes on fore and

middle femora, basally and posteriorly on hind femur, first hind trochanter;

yellow on rest of coxae, trochanters, fore femur, ventrally on hind tibia;

tawny on rest of fore and middle legs; rufous on hind femur; fuscous dorsally

on hind tibia and all of hind tarsus; large yellow spots at basal corners of ab-

dominal segments 3-7, ay on intersegmental membranes.

Male: 4.3-5.3 mm.; OOC 1.3-1.4x HO; face width 1. 8x height; clypeus

width 2.1-2.3x height; 20- 22 flagellar segments: tyloids variable on segments

5 or 6 to 9 or 10, with black crescentic areas dorsad of tyloids; hairs on fla-

gellum short and erect ventrally, inclined dorsally; abdomen parallel mar-

gined, narrowed apically; petiole length 1.9-2.0x width; pubescence of abdo-

men more abundant than in female.

Black. Yellow on clypeus, mandible, palpi, face, inner orbit, malar

space, scape and pedicel and a few basal flagellar segments ventrally; thorax

marked as in female, but with yellow on proepisternum, prepectus; legs

marked as in female, but hind femur may be heavily infuscated; yellow basal

spots or bands on abdominal segments 3-5, ventrally on intersegmental mem-

branes. Sometimes the humeral bar is recurved and some yellow may be pre-

sent on the lower mesopleurum.

Specimens: 60°, 12, Desierto de los Leones, Distrito Federal, Mexico,

at 2,900 m., Oct. 13, 1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes). 110, Hidalgo

National Park, State of Mexico, Mexico, Oct. 12, 1962, H. & M. Townes

(Townes). o, Rio Frio, 55.5 km. west of Mexico City, Mexico, Oct. 24,

1962, H. & M. Townes (Townes).

This species also occurs in the Canadian, Transition, and Upper Austral

zones of western North America.

4. Sussaba tertia, new species

(Figure 47)

Female: 4.8 mm.; head polished; occipital carina rounded meaaliy: OOC

1.75x HO; face width 1: 6x height, parallel margined; clypeus width 1. 6x

‘height, apical lobes subtruncate with a shallow median emargination, polished;

malar space 1.1x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely

subtruncate; 20 flagellar segments; sense cones sparse on segment one; thorax

polished, shagreened on pronotum, finely punctate on mesoscutum, remainder

mostly impunctate; propodeum bearing strong dorsal, lateral, and petiolar

carinae, basal area polished, lateral and petiolar areas shagreened; nervulus

opposite basal vein; nervellus broken slightly below middle; legs slender;

coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; abdomen progressively :

narrowed from base of segment 3, strongly compressed from segment 5 to

apex; petiole length 1.6x width, shagreened with some fine striations laterally,

a lateral carina from spiracle to apex; segment 2 longer than wide, striate

and shagreened on basal 0.7; remainder of abdomen polished and largely glab-

rous; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3.

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 61

Black. Yellow on large facial spot below antennae, a small spot on inner

orbit, mandible, palpi; flagellum rufous; yellow on humeral bar, tegula, tip

of pronotal lobe, tip of mesepimeron; yellow on fore and middle coxae and

trochanters, apex of hind coxa, second hind trochanter; black on most of hind

coxa, extreme bases of fore and middle coxae; rufous on most of remainder of

legs, a dusky stripe ventrally on each femur, dorsally on each tibia, dorsally

on hind tarsus; yellow spots at basal corners of segments 3-7.

Male: 4.4-4.6 mm.; face width 1. 8x height; clypeus width 1. 9x height;

malar space 1. 2x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.3-1.4x HO; 21 flagellar seg-

ments; tyloids on flagellar segments 6-10, with black crescentic area dorsad

of each tyloid; sense cones abundant, separated by less than the width of a

cone; petiole length 1.5-1.8x width; abdomen more pubescent than in female,

gradually tapered apically. ,

Black. Yellow on median facial spot, inner orbital bar to level of antenna,

antenna ventrally, clypeus, mandible, palpi, small humeral bar, tegula, tip

of pronotal lobe, tip of mesepimeron; legs as in female, but black more exten-

sive on bases of fore and middle coxae and most of hind femur; yellow at basal

corners of abdominal segments 3 and 4.

This species is recognizable by the color of the abdomen, hind coxa, and

male face, the shagreening of the propodeum and petiole, and the strong pro-.

podeal carinae. It is most closely related to S. rohweri.

Type: 2, El Cuzco, Peru, Feb. 23, 1950, L. Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: 20’, same data as type (Townes).

5. Sussaba flavopicta, new species

(Figures 48 and 61)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 5.2 mm. (4.5 mm.); head polished, obscurely punctate on gena and

medially on face; occipital carina transverse; OOC 2.0x (1. 8x) HO; face width

1. 9x (1. 8x) height, parallel margined; clypeus width 1.6x height, apical lobes

subtruncate with a shallow median emargination, with 3 parallel vertical de-

pressions, polished; malar space 1.0x (1. 3x) basal width of mandible; upper

tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 22 (21) flagellar segments; tyloids on

segments 6-10, small on segment 10, with black crescentic area dorsad of

each tyloid; sense cones separated by more than the width of a cone; thorax

polished, weakly scabrous at notaulus, lightly shagreened on pronotal lobe,

closely and deeply punctate on mesoscutum, more obscurely on pronotal lobe

and mesopleurum, polished around speculum; propodeum bearing strong dor-

sal, lateral, and petiolar carinae, shagreened, with some carinulae on petio-

lar area; nervulus opposite basal vein; nervellus broken below middle; legs

slender; coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; abdomen rounded

dorsally, mostly parallel margined; petiole length 1.5x width, shagreened

and finely striate laterally, a strong lateral carina through spiracle to apex;

segment 2 as wide as long, striate and lightly shagreened to apex; segment 3

striate and shagreened on basal 0.4; abdominal pubescence sparse; epipleura

distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3.

Black. Yellow on inner orbit, extending across malar space, middle of

face, clypeus, mandible, palpi, pedicel ventrally; rufous on flagellum ven-

trally; yellow on minute spot at humeral bar (or absent), and tegula; legs most-

ly rufous; black on all coxae, first trochanters, and bases of femora ventrally;

rest of trochanters yellow; some rufous at apex of abdominal segments 2 and 3.

62 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

This species is recognizable by the facial pattern of the male, the black

coxae, the punctate mesoscutum, the sculpturing of abdominal segments 1-3,

and the color of the abdomen.

Type: o’, Laguna Amarga, Natales, Magallanes, Chile, Dec. 14-21, 1960,

L. Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: 30’, same data as type (Townes).

6. Sussaba insculpta, new species

(Figures 49 and 62)

Female: 5.9 mm.; head polished and obscurely punctate; occipital carina

rounded medially; OOC 1.8x HO; face width 1.9x height, slightly widened ven-

trally; clypeus width 1.65x height, apical lobes subtruncate with a shallow

median emargination, polished; malar space 1.1x basal width of mandible;

upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 21 flagellar segments; thorax

polished, lightly shagreened in groove on pronotum, scabrous low on metapleu-

rum, closely and deeply punctate on mesoscutum and proepisternum, finely

punctate on mesosternum and lower mesopleurum; mesosternal suture rather

deep; propodeum with strong dorsal, lateral, and petiolar carinae, shagreened

on basal and lateral areas, scabrous on petiolar area; nervulus opposite basal

vein; nervellus broken below middle; legs slender; coxae and femora polished

and obscurely punctate; abdomen progressively narrowed from base of seg-

ment 3 to apex of abdomen; petiole length 1.5x width, rounded dorsally, scab-

rous, a lateral carina from spiracle to apex; segment 2 slightly wider than

long, strongly striate to near apical margin; segment 3 deeply striate on basal

0.6; remainder of abdomen polished and largely glabrous; epipleura distinct on

segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3.

Black. Yellow on small facial spot below antennae, mandible, palpi, pedi-

cel ventrally; tawny-rufous on flagellum and scape ventrally; yellow on minute

humeral bar and tegula; legs largely rufous, more tawny on fore and middle

coxae, all trochanters; fuscous on hind coxa except for pale apex; dusky dor-

sally on hind tarsus; rufous on apical margins of abdominal segments 2, 3,

and 4, on epipleura, and ventral surface. |

Male: 4.6-4.7 mm. ; face width 1. 7-1. 8x height; clypeus width 1. 8-1. 9x

height; malar space 1.2x basal width of mandible; OOC 1.5~1. 75x HO; 21-22

flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments 6-9, rarely with small one

on 10, with black crescentic areas dorsad of tyloids; petiole length 1. 8x width.

Black. Yellow on face except for 2 wide black vertical lines from clypeus

to antennal fossae, malar space, clypeus, mandible, scape and pedicel ven-

trally, and palpi; thorax black; legs as in female; abdomen slightly reddish on

apical margins of segments 2, 3, and 4; tawny- -rufous on epipleura and ventral

surface.

This species is distinguished by the deep striations of abdominal segments

2 and 3, the scabrous nature of the petiolar area of the propodeum and petiole,

and the color of the abdomen.

Type: 9, Curacautin, Malleco, Chile, Dec. 19- 21, 1950,°L.: Peha

(Townes).

Paratypes: 2, Ancud, Chiloe Island, Chile, Jan. 23, 1952, L. Pena

(Ottawa). 20°, 29, Aulen, Chiloe Island, Chile, Feb. 4, 1952, L. Peha

(Ottawa). 30°, Rio Gol-Gol, Osorno, Chile, Feb. 8-11, 1957, and March 13-

19, 1955, L. Pena (Ottawa).

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 63

7. Sussaba sulfurea, new species

(Figure 50)

Female: 5.7mm. (4.5 mm.); head polished and obscurely punctate; ver-

tex impressed medially; occipital carina transverse medially; OOC 1. 3x

(1.55x) HO; face width 1. 6x height, slightly widened ventrally; clypeus width

2.0x (1. 9x) height, apical lobes subtruncate with a shallow median emargina-

tion, polished; malar space 1.0x (1. 1x) basal width of mandible; upper tooth

of mandible obliquely subtruncate; 21 (19-20) flagellar segments; thorax pol-

ished, closely and deeply punctate anteriorly on mesoscutum, more obscurely

and sparsely over rest of mesoscutum, lower mesopleurum, and mesosternum;

propodeum bearing strong dorsal, lateral, and petiolar carinae, basal area

weakly punctate and polished, lateral area roughly shagreened, and petiolar

area weakly rugulose; nervulus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken below

middle; legs slender; coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate; abdo-

men progressively tapered from base of segment 3 to apex of abdomen; petiole

length 1.55x (1. 7x) width, weakly scabrous, a lateral carina from spiracle to

apex; segment 2 slightly longer than wide, striate on basal 0.8, the rest pol-

ished; segment 3 striate on basal 0.3; remainder of abdomen polished and

largely glabrous; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and basal 0.3 of 3.

Black. Yellow on large medial spot on face, inner orbit, mandible, palpi,

scape and pedicel ventrally; tawny-rufous ventrally on flagellum, more fuscous

dorsally; yellow on humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, spots on prepec-

tus, subtegular ridge, mesepimeron; legs largely rufous, yellow on fore and

middle coxae, laterally and apically on hind coxa, all trochanters, and more

or less of fore and middle femora; black basally and medially on hind coxa;

dusky dorsally on each tibia, ventrally on fore and middle femora, apex of

hind tibia, and all tarsi; stigma and wing veins pale ventrally; rufous on thy-

ridium and apical margin of segment 2; yellow apical bands on segments 3-7,

laterally on segments 3-7, epipleura, and ventral surface; yellow at basal

corners of segments 3-7. The yellow on the inner orbit may be lacking. The

specimens from Caramavida, Chile, are darker, having the hind coxa mostly

blackened except on angles and apex, the inner orbits are black, and the abdo-

men is largely black dorsal to the lateral margins of the terga.

Male: 4.2-4.6 mm.; face width 1.5-1.75x height; malar space 1.1-1.2x

basal width of mandible; 21 flagellar segments; tyloids on flagellar segments

6-10 or 11, black crescentic area dorsad of each tyloid, tyloid on segment 11

small when present; petiole length 1. 7-1. 8x width; abdomen more heavily

pubescent than in female.

Black. Yellow on face, inner orbit, malar space, lower gena, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, antenna ventrally, humeral bar, tegula, tip of proepisternum,

tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular ridge, prepectus, longitudinal stripe on lower

mesopleurum, and mesepimeron; legs as in female, but black usually restric-

ted to base of hind coxa; abdomen as in female, but apical rufous bands re-

duced to margin. The longitudinal stripe on the mesopleurum may be lacking,

and the hind coxa may be largely blackened.

This species is recognizable by the sculpturing of the first three abdomi-

nal segments, the color of the abdomen and thorax, the yellow inner orbit of

the female, and the tyloid arrangement of the male.

Type: 9, Dalcahue, Chiloe Island, Chile, Jan. 17-Feb. 14, 1962, L.

Pena (Townes).

Paratypes: 20°, 19, Butamalal, Arauco, Chile, Jan. 23, 31, 1954, and

Feb. 21, 1953, L. Pena (Ottawa). 29, Caramavida, Arauco, Chile, Jan. 11,

64 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 1, 1964

1954, and Dec. 21, 1953, L. Pena (Ottawa). 30°’, 22, same data as type

(Townes). o', Liucura, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 1-9, 1959, L. Pena (Ottawa).

2°, Pichinahuel, Cordillera Nahuelbuta, Arauco, Chile, 1,100-1,400 m., Jan.

1-10, 1959, L. Pena (Ottawa); Jan. 20-28, 1959, L. Pena (Townes). 9, Ter-

mas Tolhuaca, Malleco, Chile, Jan. 15-20, 1959, L. Pena (Ottawa).

8. Sussaba ruida, new species

(Figure 51)

Female: Unknown.

Male: 4.7 mm.; head lightly shagreened; vertex impressed medially;

occipital carina rounded medially; OOC 1.4x HO; face width 1. 8x height, paral-

lel margined; clypeus width 1. 8x height, apical lobes subtruncate with a shal-

low median emargination, polished; malar space 0.9x basal width of mandible;

upper tooth of mandible obliquely subtruncate; thorax lightly shagreened an-

teriorly on mesoscutum, pronotum, and anterior mesopleurum, remainder

polished and finely punctate; propodeum bearing strong dorsal, lateral, and

petiolar carinae, shagreened; nervulus slightly distad of basal vein; nervellus

broken below middle; legs slender; coxae and femora polished and obscurely

punctate; petiole length 1.4x width, evenly shagreened; segment 2 slightly

longer than wide, evenly shagreened; abdomen shagreened on segments 3 and

4, polished over remainder of segments; epipleura distinct on segment 2 and

basal 0.3 of 3.

Black. Yellow on middle of face, inner orbit, malar space, clypeus,

mandible, palpi, scape and pedicel ventrally; flagellum rufous ventrally; yel-

low on tegula; legs mostly rufous; yellow on fore and middle coxae, apex of

hind coxa, fore and middle trochanters, and second hind trochanter; fuscous

at extreme bases of fore and middle coxae, most of hind coxa, and first hind

trochanter; rufous on apical margin of abdominal segment 2, apical halves of

3 and 4.

This species is recognizable by the extensive shagreening of the head,

thorax, and abdomen, the rufous color on the abdomen, and the color of the

face.

Type: o, Chile, P. Herbst (Cambridge).

9. Sussaba spilota, new species

(Figure 52)

Female: 5.3 mm.; head polished, obscurely punctate on gena, frons, and

vertex; occipital carina rounded medially; vertex impressed medially; OOC

1.9x HO; face width 1. 7x height, slightly widened ventrally; clypeus width 1. 9x

height, apical lobes subtruncate with a shallow median emargination, polished;

malar space 1.3x basal width of mandible; upper tooth of mandible obliquely

subtruncate; 19 flagellar segments; mesoscutum polished and heavily punctate;

rest of thorax polished and obscurely punctate except on speculum, rugulose

low on metapleurum; propodeum with strong dorsal, lateral, and petiolar

carinae, shagreened on basal area, rugulose on lateral and petiolar area;

nervulus distad of basal vein; nervellus broken below middle, discoidella

rather weak; legs slender; coxae and femora polished and obscurely punctate;

abdomen stout, narrowed from base of segment 3 to apex; petiole length 1. 6x

Dasch: The Neotropic Diplazontinae 65

width, rugulose with more distinct striations at apical margin; segment 2

slightly wider than long, shagreened basally and more polished apically, stri-

ate medially on basal 0.6; rest of abdomen mostly polished and nearly glab-

rous; epipleura distinct on-segment 2 and base of 3.

Black. Yellow on large facial spot, mandible, and palpi; flagellum rufous;

yellow on large humeral bar, tegula, tip of pronotal lobe, subtegular ridge and

tip of mesepimeron; yellow on fore and middle coxae and all trochanters; black

on flat faces of basal 0.6 of hind coxa; remainder of legs rufous; rufous on

apical 0.2 of abdominal segment 2, all of 3 and 4, and epipleura; yellow on

large spots at basal corners of segments 3 and 4 and on ventral surface.

Male: Unknown.

This species is recognizable by the color of the abdomen, and the sculp-

turing of the thorax and abdomen.

Type: 2, Fco Madero, Argentina, 1952, J. Foerster (Ottawa).

8. Diplazon pullatus

Figures 1-8. Left hind legs.

eneve

Ste ss

of)

Figures 9-16. Left hind legs.

——

= 3

gale

74)

pa)

fon

+07

3. Homotropus preclarus ¢

24. Homotropus mexicanus ¢

Figures 17-24. Left hind legs.

30. Homotropus macrogaster

% =~

IRS,

32. Homotropus furvus ¢

33. Homotropus lissosoma

Figures 25-33. Left hind legs.

cereszeyas

BEIGE

see 00"),

kT oh ae PES

38. Syrphoctonus hidalgoensis

4). Syrphoctonus concavus

42. Syrphoctonus caccabatus ¢

Figures 34-42. Left hind legs.

44, Sussaba callosa «

“Sy :

51. Sussaba ruidac

52. Sussaba Spilota 9

Figures 43-52. Left hind legs.

Diplazon laetatorius ¢

Homotropus comptus ?

Homotropus calvus o

59. Syrphoctonus erythromelas 9

60. Promethes dolosus 9

6. Sussaba 5 lave of

rots

Te: aed

tie wet a

- ee

62. Sussaba insculpta ¢

63. Syrphoctonus concavus

64. Syrphoctonus erythromelas ¢

Figures 63-64. Top views of heads.

Figures 53-62. Clypei.

65. HOMOTROPUS elegans ¢

: h 9 a

<o e

66. SYRPHOCTONUS biguttatus ¢ o£

Figures 65-66. Habitus figures of genotypes, showing side view, front view of head, and top view of propodeum

and first abdominal segment. !

68. SUSSABA pulchella ¢

Figures 67-68. Habitus figures of genotypes, showing side view, front view of head, and top view of propodeum

and first abdominal segment.

Figure 69. Habitus figure of genotype, showing side view, front view of head, and top view of propodeum

and first abdominal segment.

INDEX TO NEOTROPIC DIPLAZONTINAE

*An asterisk indicates a synonym or misspelling.

xagilis (Bassus) 48

*akaashii (Homocidus) 17

*albovarius (Bassus) 6 }

alternatus (Homotropus) 22 (keys), 42, 43,

69 (fig. ) we

*angustorius (Ichneumon) 17.

anolcus (Diplazon) 3, 4 & 5 (keys), 15, 67

(fig. )

*attractus (Anomalon) 6

*balearicus (Bassus) 6

balteata (Sussaba) 56 & 57 (keys), 58, 71

(fig. )

*Bassus 3

*bicarinata (Sussaba) 55

biguttatus (Syrphoctonus, Bassus) 46, 73

(fig. )

*bimaculatus (Bassus) 48

brevis (Homotropus) 21 & 23 (keys), 24, 67

(fig. )

caccabatus (Syrphoctonus) 47 (keys), 53, 70

(fig. ) tye

callosa (Sussaba) 56 & 57 (keys), 58, 71

(fig. ) cy

calvus (Homotropus) 20 & 23 (keys), 39, 69

& 72 (figs. ) we

chilensis (Homotropus) 22 & 23 (keys), 40,

69 (fig. ) Be

*cinctipes (Bassus) 6

*cinctulus (Bassus) 8

comptus (Homotropus) 21 & 24 (keys), 32,

68 & 72 (figs. ) nc

concavus (Syrphoctonus) 47 (keys), 52, 70 &

72 (figs. ) re

cuneatus (Homotropus) 20 & 23 (keys), 33,

68 & 72 (figs. ) hat

decoratus (Homotropus, Bassus) 21 & 24

(keys), 25, 67 (fig. )

*dichrous (Ichneumon) 6

Diplazon 2 (key), 3

dolichus (Homotropus) 21 & 22 (keys), 41,

69 & 72 (figs. ). es

dolosus (Promethes) 54, 71 & 72 (figs.)

elegans (Homotropus, Bassus) 19, 73 (fig. )

erugatus (Diplazon) 4 & 5 (keys), 10, 11, 66

(fig. ) ae

-erythromelas (Syrphoctonus) 47 (keys), 49,

70 & 72 (figs. )

flavicauda (Syrphoctonus) 47 (keys), 51, 70

(fig. ) ue

flavidus (Homotropus) 22 & 23 (keys), 30, 68

(fig. ) a

flavolineatus (Syrphoctonus, Bassus) 47 (keys),

48, 70 (fig. )

flavopicta (Sussaba) 56 & 57 (keys), 61, 71 &

72 (figs. ) Le

*frontalis (Bassus) 48

furvus (Homotropus) 22 (keys), 43, 69 (fig. )

fuscitarsus (Homotropus nigritarsus, Bassus)

22 & 24 (keys), 26, 67 (fig.)

*renerosus (Bassus) 6

graculus (Tymmophorus) 2

groenlandicus (Homotropus nigritarsus) 28

hidalgoensis (Syrphoctonus) 47 (keys), 50,

70 (fig. ) oe

*Homocidus 19, 20

-*Homoporus 19

Homotropus 2 (key), 19, 20

*humeralis (Tryphon) 26

*ikiti (Bassus laetatorius) 7

implanus (Diplazon) 3, 4 & 5 (keys), 12, 66

(fig. )

insculpta (Sussaba) 56 & 57 (keys), 62, 71 &

72 (figs.) na

*interruptus (Bassus) 48

interstinctus (Homotropus) 20 & 22 (keys),

37, 69 (fig. )

*junctus (Mesoleius) 48

laetatorius (Diplazon, Ichneumon) 3, 5 & 6

(keys), 66 & 72 & 75 (figs. )

limbatus (Homotropus) 22 & 24 (keys), 31,

68 (fig. )

* Liopsis 54

lissosoma (Homotropus) 20 & 23 (keys), 44,

69 (fig. )

*lituratorius (Ichneumon) 6

macrogaster (Homotropus) 21 & 22 (keys),

42, 69 (fig. )

maculifrons (Homotropus, Bassus) 21 & 23

(keys), 34, 38, 68 (fig. )

masoni (Homotropus) 20 & 22 (keys),

(fig. )

mexicanus (Homotropus) 21 & 22 (keys), 36,

68 & 72 (figs. )

mulleolus (Diplazon) 4 & 5 (keys), 18, 67

(fig. ) ae

e418

orbitalis (Diplazon, Bassus) 3, 5 & 6 (keys),

8, 10, 66 (fig. )

-pacificus (Homotropus, Bassus) 21 & 23

(keys), 38, 69 (fig. )

paulus (Sy rphoctonus) 47 (keys) 50, 70 (fig. )

pectoratorius (Diplazon, Ichneumon, Bassus)

3, 4&5 (keys), 17, 67 (fig.)

*pleuralis (Polysphincta) 17

preclarus (Homotropus) 2, 21 & 23 (keys),

$5, 68 (ig

prolatus (Diplazon) 4 & 5 (keys), 16, 67 (fig. )

Promethes 2 (key), 54, 56

*Promethus 54

pulchella (Sussaba) 55, 174 (fig. )

Index to Neotropic Diplazontinae | qt

*pulchripes (Bassus) 17

pullatus (Diplazon) 4 & 6 (keys), 14, 66 (fig. )

rohweri (Sussaba, Promethes) 57 (keys), 59,

61, 71 (fig.) Le ae

ruficauda (Homotropus) 22 & 24 (keys), 29,

68 (fig. ) Fs

rufoscutatus (Diplazon) 4 & 5 (keys), 13, 66

(fig. )

ruida (Sussaba) 55, 56 & 57 (keys), 64, 71

(fig. ) ie

scutellaris (Diplazon, Bassus) 3, 4 & 5

(keys), 11, 13, 66 (fig. )

*semifasciatus (Bassus) 34

spilota (Sussaba) 56 & 57 (keys), 64, 71

(fig. )

stictonotus (Homotropus) 21, 22 & 24 (keys),

28, 67 (fig. )

sulcator (Promethes, Bassus) 54, 74 (fig.)

sulfurea (Sussaba) 56 & 57 & 58 (keys), 63,

Th fie.) Be

Sussaba 2 (key), 54, 55

*sycophanta (Bassus) 6

Syrphoctonus 3 (key), 46

*terminalis (Bassus laetatorius) 6

tertia (Sussaba) 57 (keys), 60, 71 (fig. )

trachysoma (Homotropus) 20 & 23 (keys),

45, 70 (fig.)

triangulus (Diplazon) 4 & 6 (keys), 10, 11,

66 (fig. ) i

*tripicticrus (Bassus) 6

*urupensis (Bassus) 17

*varipes (Scolobates) 6

*venustulus (Bassus) 6

*xanthopsis (Bassus) 38

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Contributions in A066

of the :

American Entomological Institute

Volume 1, Number 2, 1965

MOSQUITO STUDIES (Diptera, Culicidae)

A project for a systematic study of the mosquitoes of

Middle America.

Methods for the collection, rearing and preservation

of mosquitoes.

II.

John N. Belkin and others

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ee er,

{

ee ee Se

SE SR en

Contributions

of the

American Entomological Institute

Volume 1, Number 2, 1965

MOSQUITO STUDIES (Diptera, Culicidae)

I. A project for a systematic study of the mosquitoes of

Middle America.

II. Methods for the collection, rearing and preservation

of mosquitoes.

John N. Belkin and others

MOSQUITO STUDIES (Diptera, Culicidae)

I. A PROJECT FOR A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF

THE MOSQUITOES OF MIDDLE AMERICA!

John N. Belbin:. Robert X. Sonic. Pedro Galindo.

and Thomas H. G. dent

: This investigation is supported in part by Public Health Service Research

Grant AI-04379, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases;

and in part by U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command,

Department of the Army, under Research Contract DA-49-193-MD-2478.

; Department of Zoology, University of California, Los Angeles, Califor-

nia 90024. i

: Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, Apartado 6991, Panama, Republica de

Panama.

| Peinadad Regional Virus Laboratory, P. O. Box 164, Port of Spain,

Trinidad.

2 Contrib. Amer. Emt. ‘Inst., vol. 1, no: 2, 1965

INTRODUCTION

Definition of Area. Middle America, as here defined, comprises Central

America and the West Indies as well as adjacent portions of North America

and South America and their islands, within the following arbitrary boundaries:

in the north the 35° parallel and in the south the northern margin of the Amazon

basin westward across the Andes to Punta Parinas in northern Peru (fig. 1).

The region thus defined comprises the following political divisions: United

States (Southwestern, Southern and Southeastern States), Mexico (including

Guadelupe and Revillagigedo islands), British Honduras, Guatemala, Honduras,

El Salvador, Nicaragua, Clipperton Island, Costa Rica (including Cocos Is-

land), Panama, Colombia (all except southeastern part), Ecuador (western part

and Galapagos Islands), Peru (extreme northwestern tip), French Guiana, Su-

rinam, British Guiana, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, British West Indies

and other dependencies, Netherlands West Indies, French West Indies, Virgin

Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, Bahama Is-

lands and Bermuda.

Current Status of Knowledge. The mosquito fauna of Middle America has

not been studied as a unit since the monumental monograph ''The Mosquitoes of

North and Central America and the West Indies'"’ by Howard, Dyar and Knab

(1912-1917) which was based on field work carried out primarily from 1905

through 1908, at the time of the building of the Panama Canal, and the revision

and supplement to this monograph, '’'The Mosquitoes of the Americas," by Dy-

ar (1928). In spite of the vast amount of material and information that has ac-

cumulated in nearly 50 years, little progress has been made in understanding

or adequately describing this mosquito fauna since the appearance of the first

publication mentioned above. Lane's ''Neotropical Culicidae' (1953), the latest

general work covering the area, is inadequate because of incomplete coverage,

superficial treatment of species and unreliable keys and illustrations. At the

present, one has to rely for identification in many groups on Dyar (1928) or e-

ven Howard, Dyar and Knab (1915, 1917). While many new species have been

described and several regional lists and-studies have been made (notably Andu-

ze 1947; Bonne and Bonne-Wepster 1925; Carpenter and LaCasse 1955; Cova-

Garcia 1961; Fauran 1961; Hill and Hill 1948; Komp 1936; Kumm, Komp and

Ruiz 1940; Kumm and Zuniga 1942; van der Kuyp 1954; Martini 1935; Patino-

Camargo 1940; Perez Vigueras 1956; Tulloch 1937; Vargas 1956, 1959; Vargas

and Martinez Palacios 1956), only a few groups have been studied in some de-

tail for the entire area (notably Belkin and Hogue 1959; Foote 1954; Forattini

1961; Galindo, Blanton and Peyton 1954; Komp 1942; Rozeboom and Komp 1950;

Simmons and Aitken 1942). The immature stages of many species are not

known at present and in many groups species are differentiated primarily or

entirely on male genitalia. In several groups it is impossible to get accurate

identification even of common species. In many instances very distinct spe-

cies have been erroneously synonymized with widespread species on very su-

perficial characters. No attempt has been made to analyze the mosquito fauna

of the entire area, very little attention has been paid to the study of nonbiting

forms and only a few species have been completely described in all stages.

In recent years a great deal of new material and information have been ob-

tained in several localities in this area in connection with studies on mosquito-

borne diseases. The material has been studied only as pressure of other work

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America 2

has permitted and the data obtained have not been summarized or systemati-

cally analyzed. At the present time extensive projects on malaria eradication

are in operation in this area, much other mosquito control work is being car-

ried on and extensive studies on insect-borne viruses are in progress. This is

a most propitious time to carry out a systematic project on the mosquito fauna

of the entire area because there is a great need for a more detailed and more

readily available knowledge of the taxonomy, distribution and bionomics of

vector species and because of the willingness, even eagerness, of many work-

ers to contribute to the project through collections, rearings, observations

and detailed studies.

Significance of Project. This project should contribute materially to a bet-

ter understanding of the mosquito fauna of Middle America. From a practical

standpoint this may be of considerable importance in the control of mosquito-

borne diseases in the area. It would also be of considerable value for the epi-

demiological studies on mosquito-borne viruses currently being carried out in

Middle America. The cooperative studies and the training of students from

Middle America may be of significance in providing a stimulus for independent

studies of this type in the future.

In addition to the strictly utilitarian aspects, the mosquito fauna of Middle

America is of extraordinary interest to the biologist because it is the most

unique and precinctive (endemic) one in the world: In this area all the "neo-

tropical’ phylads (natural groups) are represented and several of these are

completely precinctive to Middle America. There are also several annectent

precinctive 'nearctic’ phylads in this area. Although many biogeographers

regard Middle America, and particularly Mexico and Central America, as a

transitional zone between the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, there are in-

dications that at least in the case of mosquitoes this area has been the main

center of origin and distribution of the precinctive phylads of the New World

(Belkin 1961: 164, 1962: 57-59). Ona worldwide basis only the intercontinen-

tal Indo-Pacific area has been of greater importance in the evolution of mos-

quitoes. It is also evident that in Middle America there are many relict spe-

cies and that their present distributions may be of considerable value in recon-

structing the geological history and understanding the biogeography of the New

World. A more thorough knowledge of this mosquito fauna in all its aspects

will undoubtedly contribute materially to a better understanding of the mor-

phology, ecology and evolution of mosquitoes.

History and Future Development of Project. Belkin became interested in

this area following the collection of several Arizona and California mosquitoes

which exhibited affinities with Mexican and Central American forms (Belkin

and McDonald 1955, 1956, 1957; McDonald 1957a, 1957b; McDonald and Belkin

1961). After a study of the crabhole mosquitoes of the genus Deinocerites

(Belkin and Hogue 1959) it was decided to organize a project on the ''Mosqui-

toes of Middle America'’ and to seek support from the U.S. Public Health Ser-

vice. The project began in January 1962 under Research Grant AI-04379 and

received additional support in August 1963 from U.S. Army Medical Research

and Development Command. Charles L. Hogue was Co-investigator from the

beginning to June 30, 1964 and Robert X. Schick, who joined the project in No-

vember 1963, became Co-investigator on July 1, 1964. |

From its beginning the project received enthusiastic support from a large

number of individuals and organizations in Middle America. The purpose of

4. Contrib. Amer. Emnt.,.Insts, voll, no. 2, 1965

the present article is to describe the scope, objectives, organization and meth-

odology of the project ''Mosquitoes of Middle America" and to bring this pro-

ject to the attention of all individuals and institutions interested in the mosqui-

toes of the area. It is anticipated that this long-term project will be carried

on for 10 to 15 years and can only be accomplished successfully with the co-

operation of workers from all the countries of the area. We wish to point out

also that several facilities and services are now or soon will be available for

interested parties in our main laboratory at the University of California, Los

Angeles (UCLA).

OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE

The primary objectives of the project are: (1) to describe and illustrate in

detail all the known stages of mosquitoes found in the area, (2) to summarize

all the readily available information on distribution, bionomics and disease re-

lations of all species, (3) to analyze the mosquito fauna of the area from the

standpoint of its composition, origin and evolution and its relationships with

the mosquito fauna of the rest of the world and (4) to make all the data obtained

available in preliminary and definitive publications.

The entire family Culicidae in the broadest sense, including the subfami-

lies Culicinae (true mosquitoes), Dixinae (dixa midges) and Chaoborinae (phan-

tom midges), will be studied. The magnitude and complexity of the project can

be appreciated from the fact that at the present time about 600 species have

been reported from the area as defined in the INTRODUCTION (Stone, Knight

and Starcke 1959; Stone 1961, 1963) and it is evident that there are many unde-

scribed and many incorrectly synonymized species. Many of the indigenous

forms have been identified as wide-ranging species, originally described from

outside the area, on the basis of very hasty comparison and incomplete know-

ledge of immature stages. A total of 1420 described nominal forms will have

to be considered in this study. It seems likely that eventually there will be

recognized well over 1,000 species from the area. It is obvious therefore that

only an organized long-term systematic project dealing exclusively with taxon-

omy in all its phases will enable us to attain a reasonable knowledge of this

complex fauna.

ORGANIZATION

Los Angeles Laboratory. Headquarters for the project are located in the

Zoology Department, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The pro-

fessional staff for the project consists at present of John N. Belkin, Project

Director and Robert X. Schick, Co-investigator. The technical staff includes

3 full time technicians and several part-time student assistants and illustra-

tors. All the standard equipment necessary for taxonomic work (microscopes,

illuminators, mechanical drawing aids, etc.) as well as a rearing room are

available. The central research collection of mosquitoes of Middle America

is maintained here (see MATERIAL) and there is also a representative collec-

tion of mosquitoes of the world, which is particularly strong in Australasian

forms. A complete classified file of literature on mosquitoes of Middle Amer-

ica is being formed (see DOCUMENTATION) and will be available to all inter-

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America 5)

ested parties. The laboratory processes and prepares for study all the mate-

rial and maintains records of all the data obtained for the project. It also

maintains stocks of supplies and equipment used in the field. The bulk of the

taxonomic studies will be carried on here by the UCLA staff independently or

jointly with cooperators. All the facilities and services of the laboratory are

freely available to cooperators, including identification of material, illustra-

tion and preparation of manuscripts for photo-offset publication. Members of

the UCLA staff will also carry on special field studies as well as surveys in

areas where cooperators are not available and will take part in training tech-

nicians for cooperative field projects.

Cooperators. Although originally designed as a personal research project,

the program on the ''Mosquitoes of Middle America" is now an informal co-

operative effort of many individuals and organizations in the area as indicated

in the ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Its magnitude and usefulness are dependent to a

large extent on the efforts of individual cooperators. To date much of the ma-

terial for study has been obtained through voluntary cooperators. It is planned

for the bulk of the field work in the future to be done by local personnel under

the supervision of senior cooperators with the assistance, when needed and de-

sired, of UCLA in the matter of coordination, instructions, training, supplies

and equipment (see FIELD WORK). Other ways in which cooperators can con-

tribute to the project is by making available previously collected material and

data (including reprints of all papers), providing field facilities for the UCLA

staff, and by undertaking joint or independent studies of the local fauna. Joint

taxonomic studies by senior professional personnel from Middle America and

the UCLA staff are being developed and it is planned to bring a number of these

investigators for short periods to Los Angeles to work on special problems.

Eventually we hope to have at least one cooperator in each country with whom

joint studies will be undertaken on the local fauna or on special groups. As in-

dicated above, the Los Angeles laboratory will provide a number of facilities

for cooperators not only for joint projects but for independent studies on the

mosquitoes of the area as well. The disposition of the material obtained for

the project is discussed in the section on MATERIAL and the arrangements for

authorship of articles arising from joint studies in the section on PUBLICA-

TIONS. The financing of cooperative or joint studies is indicated below.

Students. An important feature of the project is the training of investiga-

tors to carry on and extend the present studies. Qualified students will be

given the opportunity to pursue graduate studies inthe Zoology Department,

University of California, Los Angeles while employed as part-time Research

Assistants on the project. In addition to the routine taxonomic work for their

employment the majority of these students will be undertaking a research

problem directly related to the project. It is hoped that in this manner we will

arouse the interest and will train young nationals from Middle America as well

as the United States to carry on additional studies independently in the future.

Financing. The project is currently supported primarily by research funds

supplied by the U.S. Public Health Service and the U.S. Army Medical Re-

search and Development Command and administered by the University of Cali-

fornia, Los Angeles (see footnote on page 1). The facilities in Los Angeles

are provided by the University of California.. Limited funds are available from

the grants for the purchase of services for the collection of mosquitoes from

cooperating individuals, organizations or institutions. In general these funds

6 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

can be used for all expenses incurred in connection with the collection, rear-

ing and shipment of material expressly gathered for the project. All supplies

and equipment for the field work are also provided by UCLA. However, it is

not practical to buy vehicles or to hire full time personnel with the available

research funds. Therefore, the cooperating agencies are expected to provide

these but will be reimbursed for the extra expenses through the project when

needed. It is hoped that at least some cooperating organizations will see fit to

include this project as part of their regular activities and will provide funds

for their phase of the work through their regular budget. For disposition of

material obtained through cooperatively financed field work see the section on

MATERIAL.

Research funds will also be available to bring senior cooperators for short

periods to the Los Angeles laboratory for special joint or individual taxonomic

studies and will provide qualified young nationals from Middle America with an

opportunity to finance graduate studies at the University of California, Los An-

geles through half time employment as Research Assistants on the project.

All publications connected with the project will also be financed through the re-

search funds.

MATERIAL

Nature and Source. It is planned to study all the mosquito material from

Middle America, whatever its type and condition, now preserved in various

museums, institutions or private collections and to make special collections

and rearings at several strategic localities (see FIELD WORK). All the mate-

rial specifically collected for or donated to the project will be processed, pre-

pared, labeled and stored according to standardized methods at UCLA and will

remain there for the duration of the project as the Research Collection (see

below). Other material will be borrowed from or studied at various museums

and institutions.

Labeling. Collections made for the project will carry a distinctive printed

general country locality label with one or more letter codes for the country and

a single consecutive numerical sequence beginning with #1 for all collections

for each letter code (fig. 2). All the data pertaining to each collection, includ-

ing the exact locality, will be entered on a standard record card (see FIELD

WORK and Belkin et al. 1965) and the data from these cards will be summa-

rized and published periodically (see PUBLICATIONS). Every specimen iden-

tified on the project will be provided with a distinctive species label (fig. 2),

attached to the pin or slide or included in the vial. The date of identification

(last two digits of year) and male sex sign will be written in (the specimen is a

female if this is missing). 7

Processing. For the sake of uniformity and to conserve time no permanent

mounts of adults or immatures should be made in the field. The material will

be preserved, packed and shipped according to the methods outlined by Belkin

et al. (1965). At UCLA standardized techniques will be used for all the mate-

rial, in general following the methods of Belkin (1962: 68-71, 73-77). The

adults will be mounted on the right side, legs facing the pin, on heavy paper

"points, '’ using 'Ambroid'’ cement. All the mounts on slides will be in clear

"Euparal'’ and with #1 thickness circular coverglasses.

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America fs

Disposition of Types. Holotypes, allotypes and paratypes of new mosqui-

to species described on the project will be deposited as follows:

(1) When the holotypes and allotypes are specimens collected for the pro-

ject they will be deposited in the U.S. National Museum (USNM).

(2) When the holotypes, allotypes and/or paratypes are specimens borrowed

from institutions or individuals the depository of these will be determined in

consultation with the owner(s) of the specimens.

(3) Paratypes of all new species, as far as their number will permit, will

be deposited in the following institutions: UCLA; USNM; British Museum (Nat.

Hist.) (BMNH); Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, Panama; Faculdade de Medicina

de Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil; Museo de la Plata, Argentina.

(4) Paratypes of species described from a particular country or dependency

will be deposited also in an appropriate national scientific or research institu-

tion in their country of origin or mother country as follows:

COLOMBIA, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica

COMMONWEALTH NATIONS and BRITISH DEPENDENCIES, Trinidad Re-

gional Virus Laboratory or Institute of Jamaica

COSTA RICA, Universidad de Costa Rica

FRENCH DEPENDENCIES, Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique

Outre-Mer (ORSTOM), Bondy, France

GUATEMALA, Entomoteca de Sanidad Publica

MEXICO, Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales

NETHERLANDS DEPENDENCIES, Instituut voor Tropische Hygiene, Am-

sterdam

PANAMA, Gorgas Memorial Laboratory

PUERTO RICO and the VIRGIN ISLANDS, School of Tropical Medicine, Uni-

versity of Puerto Rico

VENEZUELA, Instituto de Higiene

For other countries type depositories will be designated later.

Research Collection. The bulk of the material collected for or donated to

the project will constitute the Research Collection which will remain in the De-

partment of Zoology, University of California, Los Angeles for the duration of

the project and will be available for study to any qualified investigator on re-

quest. Upon completion of the project it will be deposited in toto at the U.S.

National Museum if facilities are available or if these are limited then at the

Los Angeles County Museum.

Regional Reference Collections. A representative collection of the species

occurring in each country will be deposited in the institutions mentioned above

as depositories of paratypes. Representative collections of species occurring

in the entire area will be deposited at USNM, BMNH and any of the above-men-

tioned institutions that may be interested.

Identification Service. The UCLA laboratory will endeavor to Cae a

service for the identification of mosquitoes of the area starting immediately.

Naturally in some groups specific identifications will not be possible for some

time. Material forwarded for identification must be prepared and packed ac-

cording to the methods specified in Belkin et al. (1965). A share of the identi-

fied material will be retained at UCLA.

DOCUMENTATION

In a project of this size and complexity it is essential that all the data are

readily available for use and comparison. Therefore a special effort will be

8 Contrib. Amer: Enti inst,” vol. 2"ne. 21965

made to provide a documentation center for the project at UCLA. All the in-

formation will be available on request to qualified investigators.

Literature File. There will be prepared and maintained a complete file of

all the literature dealing with the mosquitoes of Middle America in the fields

of taxonomy, bionomics, distribution and disease relations. The individual ar-

ticles will be reproduced by xerography and portions of these copies will also

be filed under the appropriate classified files as indicated below. We urgently

request all cooperators to send reprints of all papers and reports, particular-

ly those appearing locally, to the UCLA literature file at the earliest oppor-

tunity.

Collection File. A standard form (Belkin et al. 1965) will be used to re-

cord all the appropriate data for the field collections made for the project.

These forms will serve as the basis for compilations on distribution, bionom-

ics and faunal analysis. Xerographic copies of these will also be filed under

the respective species, providing distribution records as well as data on bio-

nomics.

Taxonomic File. All data pertaining to a given taxon will be reproduced by

xerography (or a similar process) and kept in a file under that taxon. This

will include pertinent portions of all published papers dealing with the taxon

and unpublished data accumulated during the present investigation, i.e. all the

collection and distribution records, illustrations and notes.

Distribution File. For each country or island there will be prepared (1) a

file of all species originally described from that locality, (2) a file of all spe-

cies reported.

FIELD WORK

Scope. A vast amount of mosquito material is available from Middle Amer-

ica but very little of it includes individual or progeny rearings without which

definite association of sexes and stages and unequivocal identification as to

species cannot be made. Therefore it is essential for the project to obtain this

type of material. A complete census of all species occurring in Middle Amer-

ica could not be accomplished in the life time of a single generation of investi-

gators even with continuous systematic collecting throughout the area year af-

ter year. For the present project field studies will have to be limited to the

most significant features needed to place the study of the mosquitoes of the

area on a firm foundation.

Although considerable material from some areas has been accumulated

since field work on the project began in November 1962 it will be necessary to

carry on more or less extensive field studies for several years in nearly all

the countries included in the project. In addition since many of the important

species reported from Middle America were originally described from Brazil

and Argentina and a few from Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay it

will be essential to obtain reared topotypic material of these forms either

through field work in these countries or by exchange with local cooperators.

Personnel. The field work will be done whenever possible by local person-

nel under the supervision of cooperators after a brief period of training by a

member of the UCLA staff. Where cooperators are not available field parties

from UCLA will do the collecting and rearing. Each of the Research Assis-

tants will spend at least two months in the field on surveys or on special field

problems, preferably from a base at a cooperating institution.

PS Ee ee

EN oe a ah Na a a a a A aS ge ig os De a

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America 9

Methods. The collections and rearings will be done according to simple

techniques and using standardized equipment and forms that will enable us to

obtain a large quantity of uniform material with a minimum of effort (see Bel-

kin et al. 1965). Although emphasis will be on individual and progeny rearings

it is very important to obtain general collections of adults and immature sta-

ges also. All the material will be processed, mounted and provisionally iden-

tified at UCLA.

Topotypic Surveys. Primary emphasis will be given at the beginning to ob-

taining individual and/or progeny rearings of topotypic material of species de-

scribed from the area. It will also be necessary to obtain similar material of

species described from outside the area but reported from Middle America in

order to establish the true identity of the Middle American forms. Since in

many instances the type localities have been destroyed or are not accessible it

will be necessary to obtain this material from a similar habitat as close as

possible to the original type locality. In the course of topotypic surveys, as

conditions and resources permit, other species will be collected and reared.

General Surveys. Whenever possible general surveys will be started in

each country to sample as many different types of habitats as possible in all

the different regions, particularly those not previously surveyed. Any mate-

rial that can be readily obtained, as in connection with arbovirus studies or

malaria eradication projects, would be very valuable for this project.

Special Problems. In connection with taxonomic, dispersal or ecological

problems special intensive field work will be undertaken in selected areas.

Detailed information on the bionomics and ecological relationships of most

groups of mosquitoes in Middle America is lacking. Because of biogeographic

Significance particular attention will be paid to species occupying certain types

of habitats, notably crabholes, treeholes and leaf axils of plants. The specifi-

city of the association of mosquitoes breeding in the leaf axils of certain spe-

cies of plants is not well documented and will receive special attention also.

RESEARCH PROCEDURES

Personnel. The procedures described here have been developed primarily

for the UCLA staff and will be modified as necessary for special cooperative

studies. It is hoped that cooperators will participate in all the different types

of studies outlined below throughout the duration of the project.

Taxonomic Studies. The basic research on the project will consist of taxo-

nomic studies of various types, including the following: (1) preliminary re-

views of species groups, subgenera and genera, (2) descriptions of new forms

and previously undescribed stages, (3) thorough monographs of important

groups and (4) a reexamination of the entire fauna in connection with the final

book form publication. ;

The preliminary reviews will be based primarily on identified material

borrowed from major museums and whatever new reared topotypic material is

available early in the project. These reviews will serve as starting points for

later monographs and will provide provisional identification keys for use in the

field as well as inthe laboratory. It is planned to make preliminary reviews

of all groups, starting with the most conspicuous and simplest groups. For

such reviews at least one species will be completely illustrated in each group.

For the descriptions of new forms and stages, complete illustrations will be

10 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

made for each stage treated whenever feasible, and these will form the basis

for the monographs which will be undertaken only after topotypic material of

the majority of species is available.

Taxonomic Procedures. The general taxonomic procedures, terminology

and method of presentation will follow the pattern used in Mosquitoes of the

South Pacific (Belkin 1962). All taxonomic studies will be based on considera-

tion of all stages: males, females, larvae, pupae, and eggs whenever possible.

Slide mounts of whole adults, male and female genitalia will be prepared from

a sample of every collection. In addition to slide mounts of associated larval

and pupal skins, there will be prepared whole mounts of samples of larvae

from every collection.

For every species with associated stages and sexes preliminary drawings

will be made for the adults (entire external morphology or pertinent details),

and for the larvae and pupae (complete external morphology and complete

chaetotaxy for both), from material selected by the professional staff. Using

these preliminary drawings Research Assistants will check other material (10

or more specimens) of the presumed same species to record on special forms

the range of variation in the expression of all characters figured, in the same

population and in other populations. It is likely that at this stage undescribed

forms will become apparent. Distinguishing characters will then be selected

by the professional staff, and from these, keys will be prepared for all the

stages. All the material of a group will then be checked through the keys for

the diagnostic characters. It is likely that additional new forms will be found

in this process. The verbal description of each stage of a species will then be

prepared and significant ecological and geographical variants will be noted by

the professional staff. :

The final drawings and final descriptions will be made for the topotypic

population and will not be a representation of one individual only. Ecological

and geographical variant populations will be covered as fully as the material

and time will allow. Throughout the taxonomic work emphasis will be placed

on presentation of graphic and meristic data. Verbal descriptions will be lim-

ited to distinguishing and variable characters not amenable to graphic repre-

sentation. Attributes shared by species within a group will be given under the

description of that group. Keys will be prepared to adults, male genitalia,

fourth instar larvae and pupae and, when possible, to eggs and to other larval

instars and female genitalia.

In order to establish the identity of previously described species, it will be

necessary for the professional staff to study type specimens located in various

institutions in the Americas, Europe and North Africa. Material compared

with types will be so marked and deposited in the Research Collection at UCLA

for further study.

Distribution, Bionomics and Disease Relations. Information on distribu-

tion, bionomics and disease relations will be obtained from the literature,

from the records of previous collectors and from the standard collection rec-

ord forms (Belkin et al. 1965) which will be used in all the field work for the

project. Special field studies will be undertaken for the elucidation of signifi-

cant ecological and distributional problems (see FIELD WORK). All these

records will be reproduced by xerography and filed under both the individual

species and the various countries.

The following special outline maps will be drafted and reproduced for the

project: a general map of Middle America, sectional maps of Middle America

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America a

on a larger scale, and a map of the Western Hemisphere. The world map pre-

pared by Belkin (1962) will also be used. The entire known range of all species

will be plotted on appropriate combinations of these maps. Whenever feasible

the distributions of members of a group will be shown together on the same

maps.

All the information on distribution, bionomics and disease relations will be

summarized on (1) a chart of all the species for the entire area and (2) more

detailed charts for-each country.

Faunal Analysis. The analysis of the mosquito fauna will be based on a

comparison of the taxonomic affinities of the various species (determined pri-

marily on the basis of degree of morphological similarity in all stages) in dif-

ferent parts of Middle America and the distribution of species groups to which

these belong in adjacent areas in the Western Hemisphere as well as the world

as awhole. Charts will be prepared showing the composition and detailed dis-

tribution of the elements of the mosquito fauna (by species complex, species

group or higher unit) in the faunal subdivisions comprising the area.

PUBLICATIONS

Scope. Three types of publications will be produced: (1) periodic prelimi-

nary papers as the work progresses, (2) more thorough and extensive mono-

graphs and (3) a final definitive book of several volumes.

Authors. It is expected that many of the taxonomic papers will be joint

contributions of cooperators and UCLA staff members. Co-authorship will be

sought for all papers dealing with local mosquito faunas. Seniority in joint au-

thorship will be determined on the basis of actual contributions of respective

authors to the particular paper. Investigators are invited to use all the publi-

cation facilities (including illustration, composition and editing) for all per-

sonal papers dealing with the mosquito fauna of the area.

Illustrations. In all publications emphasis will be placed wherever possi-

ble on the use of illustrations of all kinds (drawings, tables, maps) in prefer-

ence to words. With the method of publication chosen it is more convenient

and just as inexpensive to use illustrations as a lengthy text. Facilities for the

preparation of final illustrations are available at UCLA to all cooperators.

For uniformity and economy reasons illustrations will be standardized and

erouped together on full pages for reproduction.

Method. Printing will be done by the photo-offset method. The text copy

will be prepared on an IBM Executive typewriter at UCLA under constant su-

pervision and control at the same time that the final illustrations are assem-

‘bled and labeled. This method of publication is the quickest and least expen-

sive, favors graphic presentation and allows maximum control of accuracy.

The actual publication and distribution will be done by the American Entomolo-

gical Institute through its established serial publications. Financing of publi-

cations will be accomplished by a minimal charge per page for the reprints,

which will be charged to the project in the case of cooperative studies and to

individuals or institutions in the case of independent contributions.

Preliminary Papers. The following types of papers will be published as

quickly as they can be prepared: (1) methods and techniques for collection,

rearing, preservation and preparation of material, (2) lists of mosquitoes

originally described and/or reported from each country, (3) provisional keys

12 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

to major groups of mosquitoes, (4) descriptions of new species and undescribed

stages, (5) taxonomic notes, synonymies, changes in taxonomic status, etc.,

(6) preliminary reviews of species groups, subgenera and genera, (7) new lo-

cality records, (8) notes on bionomics, (9) collection records for field work in

each country and (10) special short studies. The majority of these papers will

be published periodically in the series 'MOSQUITO STUDIES," edited by Bel-

kin and issued as separate numbers of the Contributions of the American Ento-

mological Institute as in the present instance. Very quick and economical pub-

lication can be obtained as soon as at least 64 pages are prepared for printing

for an individual issue.

Monographs. Thorough studies on important taxonomic groups, disserta-

tions of Research Assistants working on the project, major faunal studies and

extensive special studies of various kinds, if they will print 300 or more

pages, will be published as Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute.

Book. Upon completion of the project a book of several volumes covering

the mosquito fauna of the entire area will be published. The general plan will

follow the treatment in the Mosquitoes of the South Pacific (Belkin 1962). The

emphasis in the taxonomic section will be on illustration, tentatively-a full

page each for (1) the adults and the female genitalia, (2) male genitalia and pu-

pa and (8) the larva.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are most grateful to the following individuals and organizations for as-

sistance, cooperation and encouragement in carrying out the project to date:

ARGENTINA: Antonio Martinez, San Isidro, Buenos Aires.

BRAZIL: L. Deane and O. Forattini, Universidade de Sao Paulo.

CANAL ZONE: W. P. Murdoch and M. Keenan, Office of the Surgeon,

USARCARIB. :

CHILE: L.vEBi Pena G., Santiago.

COLOMBIA: E. Osorno-Mesa, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica; R. El-

liott and G. Ruiz, Servicio Nacional de Erradicacion de la Malaria; C. J. Ma-

rinkelle, Universidad de Los Andes; P. Barreto-Reyes and V.E. Lee, Univer-

sidad del Valle and The Rockefeller Foundation, Cali.

COSTA RICA: G. Havord, Instituto Interamericano de Ciencias Agricolas;

F. Granados and G.W. Hunter, International Center for Medical Research and

Training, LSU; J. De Abate and M. Vargas, Universidad de Costa Rica.

FRANCE: E. Abonnenc, Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique

Outre-Mer (ORSTOM).

FRENCH GUIANA: H. Floch, Institut Pasteur.

GUADELOUPE: P. Fauran, Institut Pasteur.

GUATEMALA: J. Ibarra, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; E. Novales

and O. Ochoa, Servicio Nacional de Malaria; M. Dary R., Universidad de San

Carlos; D. McCorquedale, AID; R. Jenney, Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana;

L. M. Drennan, B. J. Diaz,, T. A. Holcombe and C.E. Pinto, United Fruit Co.

HONDURAS: A. C. Hamilton and F. Sheehy, Tela Railroad Co.

JAMAICA: A. Goodbody and W. Page, University of the West Indies.

MEXICO: L. Vargas and A. Diaz Najera, Instituto de Salubridad y Enfer-

medades Tropicales; R. W. Dickerman, Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana.

NICARAGUA: L. Izquierdo, AID; D. Massi, Oficina Sanitaria Panamerica.

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America 13

NETHERLANDS: P.W. Hummelinck, Foundation for Scientific Research in

Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles; J. Bonne-Wepster, Instituut voor Troo-

pische Hygiene en Geographische Pathologie.

PANAMA: P. Galindo V. and A. Quinonez, Gorgas Memorial Laboratory.

PUERTO RICO: I. Fox, School of Tropical Medicine.

TRINIDAD: T.H.G. Aitken and L. Spence, Trinidad Regional Virus Labo-

ratory.

UNITED KINGDOM: P. F. Mattingly, British Museum (Nat. Hist.).

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: H.K. Townes, American Entomological

Institute; E. G. Gerberg, Insect Control and Research, Baltimore, Md.;

H. Friedmann, C. L. Hogue and F. 8S. Truxal, Los Angeles County Museum;

R. B. Allen, J. A. Kerr and L. J. da Silva, Pan American Health Organiza-

tion; S. J. Carpenter, Sonoma, California; A. Stone, U.S. National Museum;

F. Iltis and R. O. Schuster, University of California, Davis; B. Bartholo-

mew, G. A. Bartholomew, K. Bartholomew, M. Buchanan, E. Fisher, T. R.

Howell, M. Lloyd, M. E. Mathias, S. R. Telford and D. Verity, University

of California, Los Angeles; F. 8. Blanton, University of Florida; A. Spiel-

man, School of Public Health, Harvard University; L. E. Rozeboom, School of

Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University; J. K. Jones, University

of Kansas; G. F. Edmunds, University of Utah.

VENEZUELA: P. Cova-Garcia, Direccion de Malariologia, Maracay; O.M.

Suarez, Instituto Venezolana de Investigaciones Cientificas; I. Ortiz C., Insti-

tuto de Higiene.

REFERENCES CITED

Anduze, Pablo J.

1947. Contribucion al estudio de los vectores de la fiebra amarilla en

Venezuela. Acad. de Cien. Fis. Mat. y Nat., B. 10: 331-378.

Belkin, John N.

1961. Unstable tropical mediterranean areas as sites of origin of major

evolutionary changes. Ent. Soc. Amer., B. 7: 164.

1962. The mosquitoes of the South Pacific (Diptera, Culicidae). Berkeley,

U:. Calif. Press.’ 2 vol.

Belkin, John N. and C. L. Hogue

1959. A review of the crabhole mosquitoes of the genus Deinocerites (Dip-

tera,’ Culicidae)::: Calif. U.{°.P? Ent: 147 421-458.

Belkin, John N.j 'C.. L.cHogue, PP. Galindo, T.°H. G, Aitken, ‘Ry xX Schiek

and W. A. Powder

1965. Mosquito studies (Diptera, Culicidae) II. Methods for the collection,

rearing and preservation of mosquitoes. Amer. Ent. Inst., Contrib.

2: 19-78.

Belkin, John N. and W. A. McDonald

1955. A population of Corethrella laneana from Death Valley, with des-

criptions of all stages and discussion of the Corethrellini baie Culi-

cidae). South. Calif. Acad. Sci., B.. 54: 82-96;

1956. A population of Uranotaenia anider from Death Valley, with a des-

cription of all stages and a discussion of the complex (Diptera, Culi-

cidae). Ent. Soc. Amer., Ann. 49: 105-132.

14 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst.,>\vole 1, no. 2, 1965

1957. A new species of Aedes (Ochlerotatus) from treeholes in southern

Arizona and a discussion of the varipalpus complex (Diptera, Culicidae).

Ent. Soc. Amer., Ann. 50: 179-191.

Bonne, C. and J. Bonne-Wepster

1925. Mosquitoes of Surinam. . . Roy. Colon. Inst. Amsterdam, Meded.

2b. -958' p.. (Afd. Troag. Hyg. 13).

Carpenter, Stanley J. and W. J. LaCasse

1955. Mosquitoes of North America (North of Mexico). Berkeley, U.

Calif. Press. 360 p.

Cova-Garcia, Pablo

1961. Notas sobre los anofelinos de Venezuela y su identificacion. Ed. 2.

Caracas, Editora Grafos. 212 p.

Dyar, Harrison G.

1928. The mosquitoes of the Americas. Washington, Carnegie Inst.

(P..387), 616 p.

Fauran, Pierre

1961. Catalogue annote des Culicides signales en Guyane Francaise. Inst.

Pasteur de la Guyane Franc. et de I'Inini (Arch. 22) P. 465. 60 p.

Foote, Richard H.

1954. The larvae and pupae of the mosquitoes belonging to the Culex sub-

genera Melanoconion and Mochi aby tak U.S, Dept. Aer. « Tech. B,

1091. 126 p.

Forattini, Oswaldo P.

1961. Chaves para identificacao de genero Anopheles Meigen, 1818, da

Regiao Neotropical (Diptera, Culicidae). Rev. Bras. de Ent. 10: 169-

187.

1962. Entomologia Medica. Sao Paulo, Facul. de Higiene e Saude Publi-

ca. 662 p.

Galindo, Pedro, F. 8S. Blanton and E. L. Peyton

1954. A revision of the Uranotaenia of Panama with notes on other Ase

can species of the genus (Diptera, Culicidae). Ent. Soc. Amer., Ann.

47: 107-177. ,

Hill, Rolla B. and C.dicD. Mill |

1948. The mosquitoes of Jamaica. Inst. Jamaica, B. (Sci. Ser.) 4. 60p.

Howard, Leland O., H. G. Dyar and F. Knab

1912-1917. The mosquitoes of North and Central America andthe West

Indies. Washington, Carnegie Inst. (P. 159). 4 vol. Vol. 1 (1913);

Vol. 2 (1913); Vol, 3, 1913; Vol. 4, 1917. |.

Komp, William H. W.

1936. An annotated list of the mosquitoes found in the vicinity of an en-

demic focus of yellow fever in the Republic of Colombia. Ent. Soc.

Wash., Proc. 38:.57-70.

1942. The anopheline mosquitoes of the Caribbean Region. Nat. Inst.

Health, B. 179. 194 p.

Kumm, Henry W., W. H. W. Komp and H. Ruiz

1940. The mosquitoes of Costa Rica. Amer. J. Trop. Med. 20: 385-422.

Kumm, H. W. and H. Zuniga |

1942. The mosquitoes of Salvador. Amer. J. Trop. Med. 22: 399-415.

van der Kuyp, Edwin

1954. Mosquitoes of the Netherlands Antilles and their hygienic impor-

tance. Studies Fauna Curagao Caribbean Islands 5: 37-114.

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America 15

Lane, John

1953. Neotropical Culicidae. Sao Paulo, Univ. Sao Paulo. 2 vol.

McDonald, William A.

1957a. The adults and immature stages of Aedes mulleri Dyar (Diptera:

Culicidae). Ent. Soc: Amer., Ann. 50: 505-511.

1957b. The adults and immature stages of Aedes purpureipes Aitken (Dip-

tera: Culicidae). Ent. Soc. Amer., Ann. 50: 529-535.

McDonald, William A. and J. N. Belkin

1961. Orthopodomyia kummi new to the United States (Diptera, Cdliedae))

Ent. Soc. Wash., Proc. 62: 249-250.

Martini, Eric C. W.

1935. Los mosquitos de Mexico. Mexico, Dept. de Salubr. Publica. 65p.

Patino-Camargo, L.

1940. Artropodos hematofagos de la fauna colombiana. Acad. Colombiana

de Cien. Exact. Fis. y Nat., Rev. 3: 337-344.

Perez Vigueras, I.

1956. Los Ixodidos y Culicidos de Cuba, su historia natural y medica.

Havana. 579 p. :

Rozeboom, Lloyd E. and W. H. W. Komp

1950. A review of the species of Culex of the subgenus Melanoconion (Dip-

tera, Culicidae). Ent. Soc. Amer., Ann. 43: 75-114.

Simmons, James S. and T. H. G. Aitken

1942. The anopheline mosquitoes of the northern half of the Western Hemi-

sphere and of the Philippine Islands (Distribution, habits, identification,

importance as vectors, and control). Army Med. B. 59. 213 p.

Stone, Alan

1961. A synoptic catalog of the mosquitoes of the world, Supplement I.

(Diptera, Culicidae). Ent. Soc. Wash., Proc. 63: 29-52.

1963. A synoptic catalog of the mosquitoes of the world, Supplement I.

(Diptera, Culicidae). Ent. Soc. Wash., Proc. 65: 117-140.

Stone, Alan, K. L. Knight and H. Starcke

| 1959. A synoptic catalog of the mosquitoes of the world (Diptera, Culici-

dae). Washington, Ent. Soc. Amer. (Thomas Say Found. P. 6). 358 p.

Tulloch, George S.

1937. The mosquitoes of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico, U., J. Agr. 21: 137-

167.

Vargas, Luis

1956. Especies y distribucion de mosquitos Mexicanos no anofelinos (In-

secta Diptera). Inst. de Salubr. y Enferm. Trop., Rev. 16: 19-36.

1959. Lista de Anopheles de las Americas y su identificacion por carac-

teres masculinos (Diptera: Culicidae). Inst. Salubr. y Enferm. Trop.,

Rev. 19: 367-386.

Vargas, Luis and A. Martinez Palacios

1956. Anofelinos mexicanos. Taxonomia y Distribucion. Mexico, Sec. de

Salubr. y Asistencia. 181 p.

sopeqieg 9%

Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

epnuiiag =

oyedtew

ew.

sosedeley

T-$961 -.LN4-TOOZ-VION :

SATIN ALNLY.LS

0O0T 008 "2009" - = 007

VoOIdIWV JIGCIW

Map of Middle America

the

Belkin et al: Project on Mosquitoes of Middle America

ARG

Argentina 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

BAH

Bahamas 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

BAR

Barbados 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

BG 65

British Guiana 66

Mosq Mid Amer

BGR

British Guiana

LE Rozeboom leg

Br Honduras 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

BOL

Bolivia 64-66

Mosq Mid Amer

BRA

Brasil 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

BRR

Brasil

LE Rozeboom leg

Chile 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

COR i

Colombia 64-65

INSP, Bogota, OM

COE

Colombia 64-65

SEM, MSP,Elliott

COL

Colombia 64-65

Univ: Valle Cali

equinus

Theobald 69

MosqMidAmer &

MosqMidAmer o

soperi

Levi-Castillo 65

MosqMidAmer &

tropicalis

Cerq & Ant 65

MosqMidAmer o

albomaculatus

Theobald 6S

MosqMidAmer &

LOCALITY LABELS

Costa Rica 1964

Charles L, Hogue

CRR

Costa Rica

LE Rozeboom leg

CUB

Cuba

Mosq Mid Amer

Villavicencio,Col

Rozeboom 47-48

Canal Zone 63/64

W.P.Murdoch, leg

DOM

Dominica 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

ECU

Ecuador 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

Fr Guiana 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

FGA

French Guiana

E Abonnenc leg

FWI 64

Fr West Indies 65

Mosq Mid Amer

GAL

Galapagos 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

Panama 158

Gorgas Mem Lab

No, (CR)

Costa Rica

XI, 7-XII, 11, 62

Hogue & Powder

Panama '58

Gorgas M_ Lab

Grenada 1963

T. H, G, Aitken

GRR

Grenada

LE Rozeboom leg

GUA

Guatemala 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

HAC

Haiti (Cook)

LE Rozeboom leg

HAR

Haiti

LE Rozeboom leg

HAT

Haiti 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

HON

Honduras 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

Jamaica 64/65

William A, Page

W. H. W. Komp

LAR

Lesser Antilles 29

LE Rozeboom leg

LEE

Leeward I 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

Panama

leg, Carpenter

St Lucia 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

MEX

Mexico 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

Mexico 63/64

Eric M, Fisher

Mexico 1963

S. R. Telford

Mexico

Nicaragua 1964

Gorgas Mem Lab

NIR

Nicaragua

LE Rozeboom leg

NWI 65

Neth West Indies

Mosq Mid Amer

Panama '63

Gorgas M_ Lab

Panama 63/64

Gorgas Mem Lab

PAR

Panama/CanZone

Rozeboom 34-37

Panama/CanZone

S. J. Carpenter

Panama,

School

Reo

Lot

Army

Malar.

Arnett

IDENTIFICATION LABELS

albonotatus

Coquillett 6S

MosqMidAmer o

allotecnon

K, K & Ruiz 65

MosqMidAmer &

arborealis 65

Bon-We & Bonne

MosqMidAmer o

argyrites 65

Dyar & Nun Tov

MosqMidAmer &

aurivittatus

Cerqueira GS

MosqMidAmer o

Fig. 2. Locality and Identification Labels

andinus

Levi-Castillo @

MosqMidAmer

asulleptus

Theobald GS

MosqMidAmer o

durhamii

Theobald 65

MosqMidAmer 6

flavisetosus

Castro

MosqMidAmer o

guayasi

Levi-Castillo 65

MosqMidAmer &

chidesteri

Dyar

MosqMidAmer o

corniger

Theobald oS

MosqMidAmer do

coronator

Dyar & Knab 65

MosqMidAmer o

declarator

Dyar & Knab 65

MosqMidAmer &

delys

HD&K 65

MosqMidAmer o

PER

Peru 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

Puerto Rico 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

RDO - 65:

DominicanRep 66

Mosq Mid Amer

ROZ

LE Rozeboom leg

SAL

El Salvador 64-65

Mosq Mid Amer

SUR

Surinam 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

TOB

Tobago 65

Mosq Mid Amer

Trinidad 63/64

T. H. G. Aitken

TRR

Trinidad 1941

L. E, Rozeboom

Virgin Islands 65

Mosq Mid Amer

St. Vincent 1963

T. H. G. Aitken

Venezuela 65-66

Mosq Mid Amer

VZR

Venezuela 64-65

LE Rozeboom leg

cancer

Theobald 69

MosqMidAmer &

mcdonaldi 65

Belkin & Hogue

MosqMidAmer o

melanophylum

Dyar & Knab 65

MosqMidAmer &

annulipalpis 65

Lynch Arribalz

UCLA-ZOOL oo

apicimacula

Dyar & Knab 65

UCLASZO0L: ff

bis

Hier ons

Ha,

MOSQUITO STUDIES (Diptera, Culicidae)

II. METHODS FOR THE COLLECTION, REARING

AND PRESERVATION OF MOSQUITOES!

John N. Belen” Charles L. one” Pedro Gaiee.

Thomas H. G. Aken. Robert X. Schick and William A. Bower

: This investigation was supported in part by Public Health Service Grant

AI-04379, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; in

part by U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Department

of the Army, under Research Contract DA-49-193-MD-2478; and in part by

National Science Foundation Research Grants G-18961 and GB-2270; part of

the field studies were made in connection with the Public Health Service Train-

ing Grant TI-AI-132.

Department of Zoology, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024.

: Los Angeles County Museum, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, Calif. 90007.

Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, Panama, R. de P.

> Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory, P. O. Box 164, Port of Spain,

Trinidad.

Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

CONTENTS

TUEEGOMOUON ei eke ee sce ut ce ha ea ee wh fe 8 22

COLLECTION ACCOR wit ne ta eee ee eee 22

COME CUCU OT: oe Lk wevkein dante’ Retour ied ene) 22

Collection Code and Number (Lot) ....... 23

Locality and Related Information. ....... 23

Gereral Buvironmenm 4 we a a 24

Tate SINC G ee ea eee ee 25

PRC ee a a ge Ss 25

Remarks. . ee ioe ee ee ey

PS oN ep ek ae ara Be a es as 25

MG | REATINGS oe eo Be ee oe os 25

Labeling Ae ha ims ala Oe aes eR ae gah ade a 26

re hee te ene a cg aT

eCOCTIO Oi ANIA ai be eats coi ce he 27

UO Oe a ye eee Bee 27

RO a ee ais pipet whine 2s aa: 27

Raillne And OtOrine. Ges bros a ry ee 27

IsOmtine for Oviposition. oo 8 Se 28

Collecting and Recording ©. 20656 be eae 28

Collection of Immature Stages’... .0s.. 256 e. 31

eG i eh ee oe ee Bs ot

Coblbectine and Recording fro K ee ee a 31

Collecting Eggs and Dry Material. ....... SH

Transporting COLIGEIIONS O20) eis ee Ma 33

BPeeGine O1cOS sy ce i lie ee a ee ae as 34

Height of Breeding Site Above Ground ..... 45

Ve ee ee a oe ao 45

Vegetation in Breeding Site. . . 26. 6. ek. 45

EMOTO a La Gk ae 45

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 21

MmCIGCHLal VOLLOC TIONS fe oe ge ae ee 46

Sorting-and Hearing. Oe er ad a ae

PACIBICS ANG: MONI DME ie ooo ee es ke Ges ages eg 47

Care of Collections and Sorting i006 29s VOR. 47

Washing WOontaitere oo ae oe oe aoe 50

Organization of Laboratory aaa Se 20

MESS DCAVINGS Co oie sy ag wn ee eae she es D1

naividual Reapiness 20 ee ee Oe, D2

PUDAUION VALS ao ae eee wes 53

Emergence Vialevand Cages 28) 40 oe aie, D3

Roldine..Vigls and Caoee oe ee ku es 54

Progeny Rearing ie son | ee ae 54

Pie HOATIas | cis. yi io oe Ai sla oc eee a oT

Rearings from Dry Material. .... re Bee Df

BOCCIC| PAY INOS ou. ce cial 5 peo a gee es 08

Killing and Preservation ones 457 eh aes aS 08

EPQUIpDMeNE ANd SUMDHOS a i ee: Fo ae eee o8

Field Collecte@Aqulte vie wy ees, 08

POLES Lh COMO Ly gia \eres yee h we te dee ae a Oe

Reared Adiwts: cua Via ea Ta Se 60

Whole. Larvae and: Pupae, - pecs Me a ee 61

OATS se Se Ee re eee 62

Incomplete: Bearings . 5 scg a ee a oo wee 63

EPCOS uA One ee ee 63

PLOPING,. PACKING ANC MBGIIDING i402 ee hg ee: 64

COINS ESO Ae Re gos Pees epee 64

PACKING ANG DEIQOINE oo ee le ile a 65

Outline’ of Procedures Seti eee ee, aR 65

GHOS GAT se ee ee a ee Ne a eae 67

MGLerences Cited” Ve Fae ii eae Jon eR 14

22 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

INTRODUCTION

The primary purpose of this paper is to provide uniform methods for the

collection, preservation and rearing of material for the project ''Mosquitoes of

Middle America" (Belkin et al. 1965) but the methods discussed are general

enough to be applicable in similar studies in other areas. No attempt is made

to present an exhaustive review and discussion of the multitude of techniques

which have been used successfully by hosts of investigators for various speci-

fic problems. The emphasis here is on methods suited for obtaining mosquito

material for taxonomic studies of a general survey nature. Essential for this

type of study is a large amount of uniformly prepared material with all the sta-

ges individually associated, general information on bionomics and conspicuous

environmental factors and a sample from as many habitats as possible over a

wide geographic range. Important considerations in selecting the methods and

techniques adopted here have been simplicity and suitability for use under field

and laboratory conditions in the tropics and standardization and simplification

of records and labeling to minimize errors and to save time. A great deal of

effort and experimentation has been put into developing these techniques and

record forms. A variety of equipment, forms and methods have been tested

for several years in Middle America, the United States, the South Pacific is-

lands and New Zealand before arriving at the recommendations presented here.

A special effort was made to use light weight and compact equipment and sup-

plies suitable for transportation by air and at the same time rugged enough to

take abuse. We beg the indulgence of experienced laboratory and field investi-

gators for presenting and describing in detail many elementary procedures but

we have found through experience that most of these are not understood or fol-

lowed even by trained technicians with the result that much valuable material

is lost.

We are most grateful to the following individuals for many important sug-

gestions and/or for testing the equipment and methods in the field: E. Osorno-

Mesa, D. Forsyth, P. F. Mattingly, A. Quinonez, S. Ramalingam, D. Schroe-

der, S. Sirivanakarn, and J. and T. Gavortink.

COLLECTION RECORDS

COLLECTION FORM. A standard form (fig. 1) for recording all the data

pertaining to a collection has been developed for field work in Middle America

but it can be used anywhere in the world. The front of the card is primarily

for recording information on the collection itself, the back for recording the

individual rearings.

The form must be filled out in the field as completely as possible and the

remainder added in the laboratory. A soft pencil (no. 2, 2.5 or equivalent)

should be used for all entries. All measurements should be indicated in the

metric system; if miles, feet or inches are used, the metric abbreviation (m)

should be crossed out and the appropriate nonmetric unit clearly noted. There

is a minimum of writing to be done (only in lined open spaces) on the form, the

rest is to be done by circling or underscoring appropriate words or statements

or by placing check marks (V) or other signs in appropriate columns.

This collection form is intended to serve as a guide to the selection of pla-

ces and methods of collecting adults and immatures in the field and therefore

it is discussed in considerable detail below and in the following two chapters.

PS i

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 23

COLLECTION CODE AND NUMBER (LOT). Collections are identified (1)

first by a code of 2 or more capital letters designating the country, collecting

team or institution (2 or more codes are employed for one country when 2 or

more teams are operating simultaneously from different bases) and (2) second

by a collection or lot number. The collection numbers run ina regular se-

quence starting with 1 for every code. The collection number is used to iden-

tify all the material derived from that collection. It is usually subdivided into

sublots and individual numbers to identify groups or individuals within a given

collection (see SUBLOTS and INDIVIDUAL REARINGS). These subdivision

numbers are separated from the collection number by a dash or hyphen (-) to

the right of the collection number.

The standard collection form is used for a collection of immature stages or

for a collection of adults; the same collection number should never be given to

a mixed collection of adults and immature stages. However, a note should be

made under REMARKS indicating that the two collections were made in the

same locality. The single numerical sequence of lot numbers under the parti-

cular code is still followed irrespective of the type of collection, immature or

adult.

In the case of immature stages, a separate collection number is assigned to

every collection made from one individual breeding site, i.e. one ground pool,

one location in a Swamp, one crabhole, one treehole, one bromeliad, one pit-

cher, etc. Only rarely when the same and only one species is found in 2 or

more identical breeding sites should a composite collection be made; a note

should be made indicating this under REMARKS. In case of leaf axils or in-

florescences from a single plant, collections from individual inflorescences or

axils should be numbered separately if different species are suspected and a

notation made of the habitat differences.

In the case of adults, a separate collection number is assigned to every col-

lection in one specific site and for each specific type, i.e. biting and landing at

one site in a wooded area at a particular time of day, or from one trap, from

one crabhole, from one culvert, etc. Any composite collection should be ex-

plained under REMARKS. A collection of adults for progeny rearings must be

assigned a number distinct from any general adult collection made at the same

time and place.

LOCALITY AND RELATED INFORMATION. For the locality the specific

geographical location of the area where a collection is made must be indicated

so that the place can be readily found in the future. Reference may be made to

kilometer posts or distance from a settlement on a specified highway. Be as

specific as possible and if topographic or road maps are available indicate by

the collection number the locality as accurately as possible on the map. Asa

rule, several collections will be made in one locality and it may be necessary

to specify in more detail the exact location of each. The nearest town or set-

tlement that can be located on a map must be given and, as indicated above,

the distance (km) and direction (azimuth) of the locality in respect to the town

should be given. The district (county, parish, etc.) and the province (state or

other major division) and country should be given. The date and the name(s)

of the collector(s) must be written in for every collection. If the elevation can

be obtained from an altimeter or a map it should be given. Whenever possible

a photograph should be taken of the general locality and environment and of the

specific habitat, particularly in case of water-holding plants. The photographs

should be identified by the collection number written with grease pencil on a

24 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

card or large cardboard or other object and placed in an appropriate place in

the scene to be photographed. One photograph of a general locality may serve

for many collections. Indicate by a check mark in the collection form that a

photograph has been taken.

GENERAL ENVIRONMENT. For every collection, whether of immature

stages or adults, all the items in this section must be considered very care-

fully and all the applicable ones circled or underscored in each of the state-

ments 1 through 7. In addition, the information for statements 8, 9 and 10

should be filled in whenever the data are available. Any other pertinent infor-

mation should be given in the REMARKS section.

1. Woody plants. Included in this category are trees, shrubs, brush, woody |

lianas and arborescent forms such as bamboo; woody epiphytes are excluded

(see 3). The height scale is from 0 to 30 meters; indicate the height of the

woody plants by encircling the proper numerals to show the range. In the den-

sity scale: 0 represents total absence of woody plants; 1, low density as exem-

plified by trees in a park; 2, medium density as in open woodland where one

can walk through readily; 3, high density as in a dense forest impenetrable

without cutting or moving vegetation out of the way; indicate the density by en-

circling the appropriate numeral(s), taking into account intermediate conditions

and range of density.

2. Herbs and grasses. Included in this category are all non-woody plants

other than epiphytes (see 3), even such forms as banana "trees," heliconias

and terrestrial bromeliads; arborescent forms such as bamboo are excluded

(see 1). The height scale in meters and the density scale should be filled out

in the Same manner and using the same general criteria as for woody plants.

3. Epiphytes. An important element in the environment of mosquitoes in

the tropics are certain epiphytes which by virtue of the plant structure are ca-

pable of holding water often in considerable quantity; many species of brome-

liads fall in this category. In the density scale: 0 represents total absence; 1,

low density, a few plants per tree; 2, medium density, numerous plants; and 3, ©

high density, covering nearly all available space.

4. Edge effect. Some of the most productive environments for mosquitoes

are to be found along the edges of vegetation formations or artificial interrup-

tions such as paths, roads, dikes, canals. The edge of a vegetation formation

can be identified by the presence of many different types and species of plants

and may extend for several meters inward from the actual margin.

o. Water effect. The bulk of mosquito breeding will be found in the areas

surrounding permanent or temporary bodies or courses of water. Shore is

used here in the broad sense to include the belt of vegetation surrounding the

body or course of water such as the riparian environment around a stream bed,

draw or canyon bottom.

6. Human effect. Contrary to general belief, undisturbed environments are

not very productive except along edges. Human disturbance is a very impor-

tant factor in increasing the edge effect. Virgin vegetation is considered here

to be that which is not markedly affected by man or domestic animals. Clear-

ing refers to partially cleared forest and young second growth following clear-

ing. Grazing refers to disturbance due to domestic animals. A plantation is

a paktially or completely cleared area planted with woody crops. Cultivation

refers to cultivated fields or partially cleared areas planted with herbaceous

or grassy crops. A domestic environment is a rural or urban area immedi-

ately surrounding human dwellings and domestic animal quarters.

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 25

7. Light. The amount of light or shade in the general environment of the

collecting site is an important factor and should be recorded in the general

terms indicated. |

8. Annual rainfall. Indicate the approximate mean annual rainfall in centi-

meters if reliable data are available. Give the data from the closest station if

not available from the locality itself; under REMARKS indicate the station.

9. Rainy season. Circle or underscore the months during which the bulk of

the precipitation falls.

10. Vegetation type. The specific type of vegetation in the area should be

given. For the area covered in the project on the ''Mosquitoes of Middle Amer-

ica, '' it would be primarily one of the following: tropical rain forest, subtrop-

ical rain forest, tropical deciduous forest, tropical montane forest (cloud for-

est), paramo, thorn forest, desert scrub, grassland, savanna, chaparral, pin-

yon-juniper woodland, pine barrens, temperate deciduous forest, montane co-

niferous forest; littoral (mangrove, saltmarsh). Alternately the system of

Holdrige (1947) may be used.

_ IMMATURE STAGES. This section is further discussed and explained in

detail in the chapter on COLLECTION OF IMMATURE STAGES. For each

collection, only one breeding site is checked by circling the number in the list

and underscoring, circling or filling in the appropriate description of the site

and for the conditions of the breeding site, i.e. height of the site above ground,

water, vegetation in breeding site and bottom.

ADULTS. This section is further discussed and explained in detail in the

chapter on COLLECTION OF ADULTS. For each collection the exact site of

collection is specified in detail and all the data are filled in, circled or under-

scored for type of collection (specify the type of light or other trap used),

height above ground, host or bait and time of capture.

REMARKS. Special notes, explanations or clarifications of data given else-

where on the form are recorded here.

SUBLOTS. This section is used to record the subdivisions of the material

obtained in one collection. In the case of a collection of immature stages the

sublot numbers (-1 to -9) are used to indicate the different species recognized

in the collection and to record for these species the material that has been pre-

served directly from the field collection or from mass rearings. Similarly,

the sublots should be used to identify the different species recognized in adult

collections. Sublots are also used to identify progeny that have been reared

from collected adults, a sublot being assigned to each individual parent female

with her mass-reared progeny. The female parent should be identified by a

capital P after the sublot number (e.g. -1P).

_ For each sublot write in the provisional identification (even if only to genus)

and indicate by check mark in the appropriate squares the preservation of L

(whole larvae), 1 (larval skins), P (whole pupae), p (pupal skins), M (males),

F (females), E (eggs). The material belonging to a given sublot is labeled

with the collection number (lot) followed by a dash or hyphen (-) and then the

sublot number, e.g. 50-1 and 50-2 for sublots -1 and -2 in collection 50.

Provision is made in the form for a total of 9 species (or 9 progenies) in

one collection. If more than 9 species (or parent females) are obtained in one

breeding site (or adult collection) then a second collection number (lot), pre-

ferably in sequence, with identical data and with cross reference is assigned

to allow the recording of the additional species (or progenies).

INDIVIDUAL REARINGS. The back of the card is used only to record in-

dividual rearings from field-collected immature stages or from progeny

26 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

rearings. The numbers are used to indicate individual specimens, the larval

skin (1), the pupal skin (p) and the corresponding adult male (M) or female (F).

Indicate by a check mark the stage preserved for each individual. Any stage

that is lost is marked by a zero (0); a dead larva or pupa or a drowned adult

preserved in alcohol is marked by.a cross (+). For a drowned, partially emer-

ged adult, place a check mark under ''p"’ anda cross under ''M" or "'F." The

species (or generic) name need not be written in at this time.

The three digit series (-100 to -114) is used for individual rearings made

from wild collected pupae which it is not practical to sort to species. The two

digit series are normally used for individual rearings from fourth instar lar-

vae (field-collected or from progeny mass rearings). The series -10 to -19

for species or parent female of sublot -1; series -20 to -29 for species or par-

ent female of sublot -2; series -30 to -39 for species or parent female of sublot

-3; and so on to series -90 to -98.

In case more than 10 individual rearings are desired for one or more spe-

cies, then one or more of the unused series may be employed for these, with

an appropriate notation in the species column that this is a continuation of a

particular series. The same applies when it is desired to rear individually

more than 15 field-collected pupae; any of the unused larval series may be used,

preferably the 90, 80, 70 and so on.

LABELING. All the material is identified only by numbers which refer al-

ways to the collection number (lot) entered on the collection form and its sub-

lot and individual subdivisions as applicable. The collection form contains all

the data pertaining to the collection and has a record of all the numbers. In the

field there is no need to write in on the labels the country or team code letters;

these should be clearly indicated later however before every shipment. The |

code will be shown on the permanent printed labels which will be attached to all

the material at the laboratory where the material is processed and mounted, at

UCLA for the project ''Mosquitoes of Middle America" (Belkin et al 1965, fig.

2).

All labels should be on durable bond paper (20 lb) and written with a soft

pencil (no. 2 or 2.5 or equivalent), never with ink.

For general collections (collections that are not subdivided into sublots)

write a label showing only the collection number (lot); prefix the number with

# or underscore it to eliminate confusion in numbers which can be read from

either end.

For material which has been subdivided into sublots, write a label showing

the collection number (lot) followed by a dash and then the sublot number,

e.g. 50-1, 50-2 (see section on SUBLOTS above). Each vial and pillbox must

have a label placed inside; never attach labels to the outside of containers.

For individual rearings, in order to save time, insure uniformity and min-

imize mechanical errors, use the printed individual labels provided for the

purpose. These labels are printed in columns ona sheet. Cut the sheet into

strips and keep strips of the same numbers in envelopes. The numbers cor-

respond to those printed on the back of the collection form to identify individ-

ual rearings. In the 100 series the numbers on the strips are in duplicate

(one for the pupal skin and one for the corresponding adult), in the 10, 20, 30

and so on to 90 series the numbers are in triplicate (one for the larval skin,

one for the pupal skin and one for the corresponding adult).

To mark individual rearings in a given collection: (1) prepare a full strip

of the proper series by writing in the collection number (lot) in front of the

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 27

dash or hyphen (-) preceding every individual number, (2) cut off a replicate

set of an individual number starting at the top of the strip as needed, (3) attach

the replicate set to the individual rearing container anchoring it under the lid,

(4) cut off an individual label from the replicate set to mark the skin(s) and the

adult as they are put in vials(s) or capsule; throughout the rearing there is al-

ways an individual label in a replicate set accompanying every stage to its ul-

timate preservation, (5) keep the strip of unused replicate numbers with the

corresponding collection form or mass-rearing sublot until all isolations are

completed then destroy the remaining part, (6) indicate by a check mark under

the appropriate number on the back of the collection forms all the individual

rearing numbers as they are being assigned.

FIELD BOOK. A small pocket notebook should always be carried in the

field and used as a diary to record all incidental and detailed information for

which space is not provided on the collection form. All the data on a particular

collection should be entered under the collection number. An engineer's field

book is particularly useful for this purpose because carbons of the notes are

made at the time of the original entries and such copies can then be attached to

the collection forms without recopying as would be necessary with an ordinary

notebook. When completed a field book should be preserved as a permanent

record of the field work.

COLLECTION OF ADULTS

EQUIPMENT. The basic equipment and supplies needed for the collection

of adults are: (1) aspirators, (2) aerial nets, (3) oviposition vials, (4) killing

tubes and jars, (5) plastic vials and plastic cups with caps and tissue paper,

(6) pillboxes, (7) flashlight (torch) and (8) a collecting bag fully equiped as in-

dicated in the GLOSSARY. Whenever possible, traps of various kinds, light

traps, animal-baited traps and space traps, should be used (see below).

CAPTURING. Mosquitoes may be captured while in flight by means of a net

with a fine nylon aerial bag. The apex of the bag is then held up with the hoop

and handle down and the mosquitoes allowed to go up into the "'top”' of the bag.

The killing tube is then introduced through the ring and placed over individual

specimens. Considerable damage to the specimens or loss of material may

result from this technique if too many individuals are captured at one time. In

such cases an alternate method is to drive all the specimens into the apex of

the bag by swinging the net carefully a few times, quickly pinching off the top

with the specimens with the fingers and introducing this portion of the net into

a wide-mouth killing jar, closing it over the upper part of the net with the lid

of the jar.

Resting mosquitoes are readily picked up into an aspirator one or a few at

a time and then transferred to a killing tube. It is always preferable to cap-

ture mosquitoes with an aspirator but it may not be practicable when very large

numbers are encountered.

It is also possible to place a killing tube directly over a resting or biting

specimen but to do this several killing tubes have to be used in relay and they

may have to be recharged repeatedly.

KILLING AND STORING. The most satisfactory killing tubes are charged

with chloroform but other killing agents may be used (see GLOSSARY). The

killing tubes should be used exclusively for mosquitoes and should always con-

tain strips of dry absorbent paper (tissue paper or paper toweling). When

these strips get damp they must be replaced with fresh dry ones.

28 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

The specimens must be removed from the killing tubes within 10 minutes

after being introduced into the tubes. The contents of the tubes are emptied in-

to a plastic vial or plastic cup (depending on quantity of material) containing

tissue paper or paper toweling on the bottom and more tissue paper is added on

top of the specimens. A separate plastic vial or cup is used for every collec-

tion number which is written in grease pencil on the outside as well as in pen-

cil on a slip of paper placed within. A small portion of the paper toweling or

tissue is slightly moistened to keep the specimens soft and relaxed; the lid of

the container must be carefully secured. It is best not to put the specimens in-

to pillboxes in the field; this should be done at the end of the day in the labora-

tory or living quarters (see chapter on KILLING AND PRESERVATION).

ISOLATING FOR OVIPOSITION. A number of species of mosquitoes which

are very common as adults are very seldom encountered as larvae and pupae

and the immature stages and breeding sites of some of these are not even known.

This is particularly true of the genera Aedes and Psorophora in Middle Amer-

ica. To obtain the immature stages of these it is necessary to isolate live in-

dividual females collected in the field, induce them to oviposit and to rear all

the stages from the eggs (see PROGENY REARINGS in the chapter on REAR-

ING AND SORTING). It is also frequently desirable to study the range of var-

iation in clones of important species using this technique for obtaining material.

Gravid or blooded females may be found in the field and should be isolated 1

to an oviposition vial. Some landing or biting females should be captured in

Oviposition vials after they are allowed to engorge to repletion. The cotton in

the oviposition vial should be saturated with water but not contain free water

and the vial must be kept out of direct sunlight. Cover the vial securely with

the plastic lid and mark the outside with the collection number in grease pencil.

COLLECTING AND RECORDING. Collect wherever mosquitoes are en-

countered but pay particular attention to situations showing the edge effect, wa-

ter effect and human effect, discussed in the preceding chapter. Recordall |

the data for every collection on the standard record form. First enter the lo-

cality and general information in the top section of the form as indicated in the

preceding chapter. Usually several collections will be made in one locality.

A separate collection number (lot) is assigned to every collection in a specific

site, of a specific type, at a specific height above ground, ona specific host

or bait, and at a specific time of capture (see below). When, because of un-

usual conditions, a composite collection is made, the circumstances must be

explained in the section on REMARKS. A collection of adults for progeny rear-

ings must be assigned a number distinct from any general adult collection made

at the same time and place.

Record all the appropriate items on the collection form in the section on

GENERAL ENVIRONMENT for every collection as indicated in the preceding

chapter. Then check every item in the section on ADULTS as discussed be-

low. These two sections serve as guides to the selection of places and methods

of collecting adults in the most productive environments. Any unusual condi-

tions such as rain, stormy weather, etc. should be recorded under REMARKS.

1. Site. The exact situations must be indicated, not the general environ-

ment. Describe also such things as the size of the crabhole, type of platform

in a tree, condition of the host or bait and so on.

2. Type. Indicate the type of collection by underscoring or circling one

and only one of the items listed. The most common collections are biting-

landing collections with the collector or an assistant serving as bait; it is

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 29

usually not possible to distinguish between landing and biting collections and

they are therefore regarded as one type. For these collections a protected

spot should be selected for a team of two men, one serving as bait, the other

one capturing the landing or biting mosquitoes; the bait will attract more speci-

mens if the shirt is removed or trouser legs or sleeves are rolled up. Excel-

lent collections can be obtained by a collector working alone. Different species

of animals may also be used as bait for biting-landing collections. Use an as-

pirator for capturing specimens and spend at least 30 minutes at a collection

site. If mosquitoes are extremely numerous it may be necessary to use the net

and wide-mouth killing jar technique. Nets are very handy also in the case of

many sabethines which are frequently very chary about landing and biting.

Swarming mosquitoes, consisting primarily of males, are sometimes en-

countered over bushes or various projecting objects, including the head of a

collector. Such swarms should be captured with a net, in toto if possible, and

careful notation made of all circumstances under the site.

Resting collections are made in a variety of habitats where mosquitoes nor-

mally concentrate during periods of inactivity. Almost any protected, cool,

shady spot may serve as a resting place, but the most productive sites of con-

centrations of resting mosquitoes are: buttresses of trees, hollow trees, un-

dersides of fallen trees, cavities in the ground, crabholes, animal burrows,

caves, banks of streams, draws or ditches (particularly with overhanging veg-

etation or dripping water), sides of waterfalls, dense mats or stands of herba-

ceous or grassy vegetation, axils, bracts and pitchers of waterholding plants

as well as on or under various structures such as bridges, culverts, drains,

pipes, barrels, boxes, bottles, cans, in barns, privies and in and under

houses. It is among resting mosquitoes that one will find the largest percent-

age of males and gravid and blooded females in the field. Search through all

the different types of resting sites; a flashlight will be useful in many dark

places. It is frequently necessary to disturb the site in some fashion to locate

the mosquitoes. Blowing tobacco smoke into small cavities, such as crabholes,

is helpful. Resting mosquitoes are generally collected individually with an as-

pirator, directly into oviposition vials or witha net. With crabholes, animal

burrows and similar cavities in the ground, resting mosquitoes may be driven

into a net placed over the hole and the bag held up by stamping around the hole

or prodding into it with a stick or aspirator. The specimens are then picked

up from the net with an aspirator or killed in a wide-mouth jar as indicated

above. The exact resting place collected must be specified on the form under

1. Site. Every type of resting place must be given a separate collection num-

ber (lot).

_ Sweeping collections are essentially collections of concentrations of mos-

quitoes resting in relatively open situations in grassy or herbaceous vegetation

or on shrubs, collected by sweeping a net above the vegetation after the mos-

quitoes are disturbed into flight by walking through or beating the vegetation.

They usually consist of recently emerged specimens of both sexes resting in

the vicinity of the breeding sites. The males of many species are most easily

obtained in this manner before they disperse or die. The most productive

areas for sweeping collections are along margins of streams, ponds and mar-

shes as well as in the interior of swamps and marshes and also in the neigh-

borhood of temporary pools in open situations as well as in wooded areas.

Care should be taken that the net clears the vegetation in sweeping, that it does

not get wet, and that only a small number of specimens is captured at one time.

30 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

The wide-mouth killing jar technique should be used for killing the specimens

(see above) unless only a few specimens are captured when an aspirator and

killing tube may be used. A portable screened chamber is useful for capturing

mosquitoes resting in grass (Zulueta 1950).

The term light collections refers to captures made at night at an artificial

light source of some kind. A variety of nocturnal and even diurnal species may

be attracted to these lights and this type of collection often includes a large per-

centage of males not readily obtained by other methods. All types of electric

lights, incandescent, fluorescent and ultraviolet (‘dark light"), are effective

attractants except for lights emitting longer wave lengths in the yellow and

orange range. Collections should be tried at various stationary light sources

in settlements, isolated houses and along highways. Mosquitoes should be

looked for on horizontal and vertical surfaces from near the light source to a

considerable distance away where relatively little light falls; some may be found

flying around the light. Portable light sources (battery-operated electric lights;

geasoline or kerosene lanterns) may be taken into the field and operated with a

sheet placed under the light and another hung vertically a short distance from

the light. Mosquitoes should be captured with an aspirator unless extremely

numerous in which case a net should be used. Various kinds of light traps have

been designed and widely used in many parts of the world, primarily in north

temperate regions. Light traps in general have not proved to be very effective

in most tropical areas for unknown reasons. Attempts should be made to de-

velop more effective light traps for these areas for they could be extremely |

helpful in obtaining certain nocturnal and crepuscular species. Not all light

traps are suitable for collecting mosquitoes for taxonomic studies as the speci-

mens may be in very poor condition in such traps as the most widely used ''New

Jersey" light trap and its various modifications (Mulhern 1953). The most

promising and potentially best suited light trap for taxonomic studies is the

"CDC miniature" battery-operated light for the capture of live specimens (Su-

dia and Chamberlain 1962). All collecting at lights or in light traps is strongly

influenced by atmospheric conditions and by moonlight. It is important there-

fore to make for every collection a notation as to the exact conditions under

which captures are made as well as the type of light or light trap used. Each

different collection should be given a separate number as with all other types

of collections. |

Trap collections are restricted here to captures with all types of traps ex-

cept light traps. Many different animal-baited traps have been designed but

the most useful ones for mosquito collecting in the tropics are the Shannon

trap (Shannon 1939, Forattini 1962: 603-607), the Magoon trap (Magoon 1935,

Bates 1944, Russell et al 1963: 298), the dawn trap (Shannon 1943, Earle 1949)

and the Trinidad no. 10 trap (Worth and Jonkers 1962). The captures in some

of these traps consist primarily of blooded females that do not make good mu-

seum specimens but which are very important as parent females for progeny

rearings. A sample of females should be isolated in oviposition vials and the

remainder killed and preserved. Other traps do not allow the females to feed

on the bait and material caught in these traps should be killed and preserved

directly. Traps baited with "dry ice’ (COg) have been used successfully in

several areas but are not practical for field use in most places in the tropics.

Recently the unbaited portable Malaise trap (Malaise 1937: 148-160; Gressitt

and Gressitt 1962; Townes 1963) has been used very successfully for sampling

many different types of flying insects and is particularly efficient in capturing

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 31

Diptera. It should be tried and adapted for mosquitoes and may capture noctur-

nal as well as diurnal species. With all trapping the selection of the site for the

trap is all important and such information should be included on the collection

form together with an indication of the specific trap used.

3. Height of collecting site above ground should be carefully recorded in me-

ters for all collections. Biting-landing and sweeping collections with collectors

standing at ground level are recorded as 0 meters. For biting-landing collec-

tions made above ground level, as on a platform ona tree, the exact height

above ground should be given. For swarms, resting, light and trap collections

the height at which mosquitoes are found should be entered.

4. Host or bait. The type and number of hosts or bait used in biting-landing

and baited-trap collections should be indicated.

5. Time of capture. The inclusive period during which the collection is

made should be entered, preferably on a 24-hour clock system. The time of

operation of a trap should be similarly indicated.

COLLECTION OF IMMATURE STAGES

EQUIPMENT. The basic equipment and supplies needed for the collection

of immature stages are: (1) dippers, (2) aquatic and dip nets, (3) mosquito

pumps and siphons, (4) pipettes and medicine droppers, (5) plastic, enamel or

porcelain sorting bowls, (6) plastic pans and buckets, (7) plastic cups with lids,

(8) plastic vials with lids, (9) plastic bags, (10) a water can or other large plas-

tic container with clean fresh water, preferably rainwater, (11) box, carton or

tray to hold filled plastic cups and vials and (12) a collecting bag fully equipped

as indicated in the GLOSSARY.

COLLECTING AND RECORDING. Because of the much greater percentage

of species that can be collected as immature stages as compared to adults the

emphasis in taxonomic surveys should be placed on the collection of immature

stages which can then be reared with relative ease in the laboratory to provide

definite association of both sexes and all stages.

The immature stages should be collected with great care to prevent injury

and should be provided with a sufficient volume of water and fine debris from

the original breeding site to insure adequate food supply for rearing. Larvae

and pupae are removed from the breeding site with the appropriate tool such as

a dipper, aquatic net, dip net, pipette, siphon or pump. Do not neglect to col-

lect small larvae. All immature stages are placed with ample water from the

breeding site into a plastic cup, sorting bowl, pan or bucket until the desired

number is obtained. Large debris is removed from the container and the sed-

iment (if present) is allowed to settle. Because pupation and emergence of

adults often occurs during midmorning and midafternoon while collections are

being made or transported it is very important to isolate in individual vials the

desired number of full grown fourth instar larvae (identified by dull opaque

bodies) and dark pupae. These individual vials are capped and carefully marked

on the outside with the collection number (lot) in grease pencil. The remainder

of the collection is carefully searched for predators and for carnivorous mos-

quito larvae; for recognition of carnivorous larvae see section on SPECIAL

REARINGS in the chapter on SORTING AND REARING, The latter must also be

isolated in individual vials. If a large amount of water is present, pour out

the excess through a fine-meshed dip net, invert the net and dip it into the

32 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

water which is retained in the container. The final collection should be placed

into one or more plastic cups about three-quarters full of water and containing

no more than about 200 larvae and pupae each. Cover carefully the plastic cups

with lids and mark each cup and lid on the outside with the collection number in

grease pencil. :

It is very important to wash carefully all pipettes, nets, dippers, etc. be-

tween all collections so that no transfer of larvae, pupae or eggs will take

place. It is obvious that some records of mosquitoes from unusual breeding

sites are due to inadvertent contaminations of this type.

Every collection from a specific individual breeding site should be assigned

a separate collection number. Record all the data for each collection on the

standard collection form indicating all the appropriate data for each of the items

in the section on IMMATURE STAGES. The data to be entered are discussed

below under BREEDING SITES, HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND, WATER, VEGE-

TATION and BOTTOM. Assign a number to the collection, enter all the data

on the top of the card for locality and general information and in the section on

GENERAL ENVIRONMENT. All this information must be given for every col-

lection even when several are made in the same locality.

In the section on BREEDING SITES below, all the principal types of breed-

ing sites utilized by mosquitoes are listed and this section will serve as a guide

to specific places to look for immature stages.

COLLECTING EGGS AND DRY MATERIAL. A rich but neglected source

of mosquitoes in general surveys are the eggs occurring in natural habitats.

For certain species, particularly in the genera Aedes and Psorophora, this —

forms the most dependable means of obtaining larvae, pupae and adults, es-

pecially during the dry season. An effort should be made therefore to collect

eggs in the field and to rear them in the laboratory. In addition, it is very de-

sirable to obtain more information about the eggs of mosquitoes since very lit-

tle is known at present, particularly about the eggs of species breeding in the

leaf axils and flower bracts of plants. It may be advisable to preserve some

of these eggs in the field (see chapter on KILLING AND PRESERVATION).

In those species utilizing permanent or semi-permanent collections of wa-

ter on the ground, eggs are laid usually on the water surface but sometimes

are attached to vegetation. In the former case, eggs are usually collected to-

gether with the larvae and pupae and will be included in the collection of these

stages if a dip net is used to filter the water and concentrate the debris from

the breeding site. However, a special effort may be made to locate egg rafts

or individual eggs of anophelines and to isolate these in vials for rearing.

These eggs may be picked up with a camel's hair brush or a strip of absorbent

paper such as paper toweling or filter paper. Certain species of Mansonia at-

tach masses, rosettes or ribbons of eggs to emergent or floating vegetation or

various objects at or below the water surface and sometimes even to the roots

of aquatic vegetation (see Horsfall 1955 for specific sites). Wherever Manso-

nia adults are collected, a search should be made for eggs in various perma-

nent bodies of water nearby. The egg masses should be removed together with

a piece of the vegetation and taken to the laboratory for rearing.

Species utilizing primarily temporary ground waters for breeding (Psoro-

phora and several subgenera of Aedes) lay eggs, usually individually, on moist

soil above the water level or in depressions without water at the time but where

flooding may subsequently occur. Larval development is usually very rapid in

these species and generally immature stages will not be found when only fe-

males are encountered in the field. In Such situations an attempt should be

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 33

made to collect eggs around the edges of depressions where water may have

been standing. Samples of the upper inch or less of the soil should be gathered

with a trowel or small shovel and placed in plastic bags or plastic cups to be

flooded later with water (see chapter on SORTING AND REARING). Eggs of

these species may also be collected during the dry season from likely areas,

particularly where adults may have been noted during the rainy season. All low

areas subject to periodic flooding should be checked as well as margins of semi-

permanent or even permanent ground waters subject to periodic fluctuation.

The presence of eggs in the soil may be checked in the field by flooding a sample

of the dry soil in a plastic cup; if eggs are present larvae will hatch usually

within minutes. Eggs of different species may be laid at different levels of soil

humidity so that a transect should be made from the lowest to the highest point

in the depression.

Many species utilizing treeholes and possibly other plant container habitats

(leaf axils, flower bracts, coconuts, bamboo, etc.) lay eggs above the water

level in the breeding site. The eggs of some of these species can withstand

desiccation and may survive long dry seasons when no water at all is found in

the breeding site. After collecting larvae and pupae in such habitats, the sides

of the treehole or other container habitat should be washed down several times

with water to dislodge any eggs that may be present. A considerable amount of

the debris at the bottom of the container should always be included with the wa-

ter taken for rearing. During the dry season one can usually identify treeholes

that may serve as breeding sites at the appropriate time by a water stain below

the lip of the hole. Debris from the bottom and scrapings from the sides of

such dry treeholes should be collected in plastic bags or plastic cups for rear-

ing. Dry debris from the basal axils of agave and some yuccas has also yielded

eggs of species of Aedes and it is possible that debris from leaf axils and flow-

er bracts may also harbor viable mosquito eggs.

All egg collections should be treated exactly like collections of other imma-

ture stages, given a separate collection number for every specific site and all

the information in the section on IMMATURE STAGES on the collection form

filled in the same way. In addition a notation should be made under REMARKS

indicating the nature of the collection.

TRANSPORTING COLLECTIONS. The various containers with immature

stages or adults collected in the field should be placed upright in boxes or car-

tons. Usually no difficulty is encountered and little or no mortality occurs if

some care is taken in transporting live mosquitoes in field vehicles. First,

the containers should be placed away from direct sunlight and excessive heat;

wet towels may be placed over and around the containers when high tempera-

tures are encountered. Second, drive carefully avoiding high speeds, sudden

stops and excessive bouncing. Third, stop periodically (every hour or so) for

10 to 15 minutes and check through the collections. Open the plastic cups to

relieve any pressure that may have built up and reseal the containers. This is

particularly important when changing altitude rapidly and at such times should

be done more frequently. Fourth, take care of any adults that may have

emerged.

Various special methods have been used for transporting larvae and pupae

but these are usually not essential if the above suggestions are followed. Col-

lections have been transported in a passenger car on trips of a week or longer

over very rough roads without special methods with practically no loss of ma-

terial.

34 | Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

BREEDING SITES. The list of breeding sites on the collection form pro-

vides a guide to the major types of specific habitats utilized by the immature

stages of mosquitoes. All the types should be checked in every locality being

surveyed. A separate collection number should be assigned to each specific

type and separate collection forms filled out for each one as indicated above un-

der COLLECTING AND RECORDING. In the present section all the different

types are defined and discussed in the order in which they are listed on the form

and suggestions are made for special collection methods that can be used to best

advantage. The list of sites begins with the most generalized habitats on the

ground and proceeds to the most specialized living plant containers. Any unu-

sual habitat not covered in the list should be specified along with all explanatory

remarks for other items in the section on REMARKS.

1. Pond, lake. This category includes all types of permanent or semi-

permanent bodies of standing water, natural or artificial, with a considerable

expanse of open area in the center. The distinction between pond and lake is

largely one of size. A lake is larger and usually fed by one or more definite

streams while a pond is small and largely fed by springs or seepages. Most

lakes are named on topographic maps while ponds have only local names if any.

Collections should be made at various sites and in different types of vegetation

around the periphery and also if possible in the central part. Each of these col-

lections should be given a different number and a note made under REMARKS

to indicate the exact site for each in addition to specifying the different condi-

tions of water, vegetation and bottom. Immature stages are most easily loca-

ted by trampling the vegetation and muddying the water. A dipper or a net can

then be used to pick up the larvae and pupae as they come up to the surface.

Along abrupt banks and where the vegetation grows in hummocks the immature

stages are generally concentrated along the edges of the vegetation; here a

quick plunge or a slow gradual depression of an inclined dipper against the edge

will capture many specimens. In more open situations sweeping through the

water with an aquatic net will be more rewarding.

No difficulty will be encountered in locating and collecting the immature

stages of most common and well known typical mosquitoes of the genera Ano- \

pheles, Bironella, Uranotaenia, Culex, Aedeomyia, Hodgesia, Culiseta, Fi-

calbia and occasionally Aedes. The general technique of handling these has

been discussed briefly above under COLLECTING AND RECORDING; the con-

centration technique is particularly important to obtain large numbers of imma-

ture stages and should always be used. However, certain forms common in

lakes and ponds require special attention to recognize, find and/or handle. :

These are discussed in the following paragraphs. '

Mansonia larvae and pupae will be found below the water surface attached to

floating vegetation or to stems and roots of emergent plants. To locate the

breeding sites of some of these, an aquatic net may be swept under the vegeta-

tion with a lifting motion and the contents emptied into water ina large pan or

bucket. For other Mansonia species either a bucket may be placed carefully

under a mat of floating vegetation and lifted out with the vegetation, or clumps

of floating vegetation may be carefully lifted and placed into a pan or bucket of

water. In either case the vegetation is then agitated vigorously to dislodge the

larvae and/or pupae and carefully examined piece by piece to locate them. The

debris settling at the bottom of the pan or bucket should also be carefully

searched for larvae and pupae. At the time of emergence, Mansonia pupae

float up to the water surface where they rest motionless in a horizontal position

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 35

apparently lifeless and quite unlike ordinary mosquito pupae and resembling the

pupae of chironomid midges. Breeding sites of Mansonia can be located some-

times by finding large numbers of cast pupal skins. Live Mansonia larvae and

pupae should be placed in plastic cups or individual plastic vials provided with

small discs of wet strength paper floating on the surface (see section on SPE-

CIAL REARING in chapter on SORTING AND REARING). Dark pupae should

be isolated in individual vials with a moist strip of paper toweling and no free

water. Some species of Ficalbia also attach to vegetation and should be treated

in the Same manner as Mansonia.

Chaoborus and Sayomyia larvae and pupae are frequently found in deeper

water in the more open situations away from shore. They should be collected

by sweeping rapidly a large aquatic net at several depths and also by bringing

up mud from the bottom. The net is then everted and washed in a shallow pan

of water. The larvae and pupae are practically transparent and difficult to lo-

cate even in a pan except after the sediment has settled when they can be rec-

ognized by their jerky motion as they float horizontally near the bottom of the

pan. Although carnivorous, Chaoborus and Sayomyia larvae may be left togeth-

er in a plastic cup as they do not feed on other mosquitoes.

Corethrella and Lutzomiops larvae and pupae also require special attention.

The larvae resemble short stubby Anopheles or Uranotaenia and rest parallel

to and just under the surface film. Some species are very easily disturbed and

when alarmed will sink and remain for long periods in the flocculent muck at

the bottom. The pupae float motionless on the surface film in a horizontal po-

sition and resemble seeds or chaff. As with Chaoborus it is not necessary to

isolate individual specimens of Corethrella and Lutzomiops since they do not

seem to be cannibalistic and probably also feed primarily on the larger micro-

organisms in the larval habitat.

Immature stages of Dixinae are commonly found in vegetation around ponds

and lakes and in other ground water habitats but are seldom collected because

they are not recognized as relatives of true mosquitoes. The larvae move back-

wards with a rapid looping motion of the bodies apparently on top of the surface

film and, when coming to rest against vegetation or shore margin, bend into an

inverted U with only the head and tail in the water and most of the body com-

pletely out of water. They frequently crawl out of the water completely but are

of course surrounded by a film of water. They can be dislodged from such sit-

uations by quickly pouring water from a dipper or splashing water on the shore

or vegetation and then are collected with a dipper or net. The pupae are found

with the larvae resting against edges with the long abdomen hanging straight

down. After capture Dixinae immatures are handled like true mosquitoes.

2. Ground pool. Included in this category are all kinds of collections of

standing water on the ground that are primarily of a temporary nature, whether

natural or artificial. Some of the larger ground pools may be semi-permanent

as in the case of borrow pits around roads and railroad embankments, along

irrigation dikes and in irrigation overflows. Ground pools may also be formed

in depressions after water recedes from overflows of ponds, lakes and streams.

A large ground pool is considered to be one 5 meters or more in the largest

dimension and a small ground pool of less than this diameter. A very common

type of small ground pool are ruts made by vehicles in dirt roads. Ground

pools should be looked for in open areas, in grassy areas and in second growth

wooded areas; each of these general environments will yield different species

of mosquitoes. A special category, 5. Flooded forest, is considered sepa-

rately below because it is seldom collected and may have species of special

36 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

interest. Belonging in the same category with ground pools are also 3. Animal

tracks.

Collections in ground pools are easily made with dippers, dip nets, aquatic

nets or even directly with pipettes. The mosquito fauna consists primarily of

species of Aedes and Psorophora but in the larger and in semi-permanent pools

i et

Corethrella, Lutzomiops, Dixinae and even Mansonia may be found. For the

latter four groups see the discussion under 1. Ponds, lakes above.

3. Animal tracks. Tracks made by animals in low lying and marshy areas

in the open as well as in woods are productive breeding sites particularly dur-

ing the rainy season. The immature stages may be captured directly with a pi-

pette or with a dipper or small dip net. The latter is particularly useful as it

captures specimens more quickly and concentrates food. Although the mosqui-

to fauna of animal tracks consists primarily of temporary pool breeders (Aedes,

Psorophora), at times it includes species normally breeding in permanent ha-

bitats (Anopheles, Culex, Uranotaenia, etc.).

4. Swamps. As understood here this category includes marshes as well as

swamps of all types,i.e. permanent or semi-permanent areas of wet ground,

more or less uniformly covered with standing water but without extensive areas

of open water. A wide variety of special types of sites are usually present in

Swamps and all the different situations should be checked by collecting along a

transect from the edge to the center. All the groups mentioned under 1. Pond,

lake are usually represented in Swamps, frequently by species peculiar to these

habitats. Of particular interest are some mosquitoes that breed in areas so

choked with vegetation that no water at all is apparent until one sinks into the

mat overlying the water. Areas of this type with low vegetation, found around

the periphery of some Swamps are the marshy depressions mentioned on the

collection forms.

Collecting in swamps is often difficult because of the density of the vegetation

and it is often necessary to cut down the tall vegetation with a machete, trample

the remaining stubs and muddy the water before the immature stages can be lo-

cated. Frequently peculiar species will be found localized in small pockets of

water and at the edges of hummocks of vegetation. Swamps are particularly

rich in species of Mansonia.

). Flooded forest. A common temporary ground pool habitat seldom col-

lected is the flooded forest floor. In the Solomon Islands and New Guinea the

larvae of several species of very common Aedes previously unknown in the im-

mature stages were found in this type of habitat. Frequently the water is very

shallow and intermittent; apparently some species complete their development

during a series of floodings, surviving in the mud or decaying vegetation as

larvae or pupae between floodings. This type of habitat should be thoroughly

investigated as a possible source of species of Aedes and Psorophora still un-

known in the immature stages. |

6. Seepages and springs. Sources of flowing water serve as breeding sites

for many species of mosquitoes which may be restricted to this type of habitat.

The following forms are frequently encountered: Dixinae, Anopheles, Bironella,

Chagasia, Uranotaenia, Culex and Culiseta. Depending on the depth of the wa-

ter, pipettes, dippers and dip nets may be used to capture the immature sta-

ges. Springs and seepages in caves are of particular interest and should be in-

vestigated more thoroughly than they have been in the past.

7. Wells. These artificial sources of clean fresh water harbor a Gaeta

fauna very similar to that found in seepages and springs (see above). Species

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 37

of Chaoborus and Sayomyia may also be present. Here dip nets and even aqua-

tic nets may be used in addition to dippers for capturing the immature stages.

The sides of wells frequently serve as resting sites for adult mosquitoes.

8. Streams. Streams of all sizes and types should be investigated thorough-

ly for they serve as breeding sites for many species of Dixinae, Anopheles, Bi-

ronella, Chagasia, Uranotaenia, Culex, Aedeomyia (occasionally), Hodgesia,

Culiseta, Ficalbia and sometimes Mansonia. Most immature stages will be

found in the vegetation or against the banks of the stream but species vary a

great deal in their preference with respect to strength of the current and some

may even be found along the edges of boulders in the swiftest part of the cur-

rent. Pools on the sides of a stream or in a drying stream bed are also very

productive. A special type of site which often contains concentrations of im-

mature stages of many species will be found upstream from blocks across the

stream where flotage and debris accumulate.

9. Ditches and drains. These artificial channels of flowing water provide

habitats very similar to those found in some types of streams and harbor a

very similar but more restricted mosquito fauna. The smaller drains resem-

ble seepages and springs and are often contaminated with organic domestic

wastes. Canals of all types should be included in the category of ditches and

drains.

10. Fountains, gutters. These are artificial collections of running water

with concrete bottom and usually without conspicuous large vegetation. A lim-

ited but significant mosquito fauna of domestic, quasidomestic and some wild

species utilize this habitat, particularly species of Culex and Anopheles. The

immature stages may be captured with dippers, dip nets or pipettes.

11. Crabholes. Holes made by land crabs (Gecarcinidae) and fiddler crabs

and related forms (Ocypodidae) are normally utilized for breeding and resting

by a large number of species of the genera Deinocerites, Culex and Aedes and

a few species of Uranotaenia. The genus Deinocerites and several Old World

subgenera of Aedes (notably Cancraedes, Geoskusea and Levua) are practically

restricted to crabholes. Representatives of other genera and subgenera may

be occasionally found in crabholes. Some crabhole species are sometimes

found in treeholes and artificial containers and not infrequently in temporary

ground pools in an area where crabholes are present. There appears to be lit-

tle or no specificity of association of a given species of mosquito with a parti-

cular species of crab. However, crabholes of different size and in different

environments harbor different species of mosquitoes, although two or more

species are often found in one hole. Consequently, a separate number (lot)

should be assigned to the material obtained from each individual crabhole.

Crabholes containing mosquitoes have been found in and along the edges of man-

grove swamps, on the banks of streams, rivers and lakes near the sea and even

inland (Lake Valencia in Venezuela) and from hillsides. Generally the water in

the crabholes is fresh or only slightly brackish and is not subject to flooding by

tides. Rainfall affects markedly the suitability of crabholes for mosquito breed-

ing and this undoubtedly accounts in part for the seasonal differences in the dis-

tribution of crabhole mosquitoes. Therefore collections should be made at all

time of the year and from all types of crabholes.

Some crabholes are shallow and the immature stages in these can be read-

ily seen at the water surface. In the majority of crabholes, however, the wa-

ter surface is from a few inches to 2 meters or more below the ground surface,

i.e. at the level of the water table, or approximately at the level of the water

38 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

in the nearby swamp, river or lake. Not all crabholes contain immature sta-

ges, usually only those in which adults are resting. The presence of adults can

be determined by blowing tobacco smoke, prodding with a stick or aspirator or

stamping on the ground if it is solid. These adults should be collected with an

aspirator as they return to rest in the hole, as they invariably do within sec-

onds, or if many are present by inverting an aerial net over the hole and driv-

ing them up into the apex of the net. These adult catches should be preserved

and given their own collection number but with a crossreference to the collec-

tion of immature stages from the same hole.

The easiest way to capture the immature stages is with a mosquito pump.

The end of the rubber tube of the proper diameter attached to the pump cham-

ber should be carefully inserted into the crabhole until it hits the bottom. It

should then be raised slightly so that it does not become clogged with sand or

debris. The one-way rubber bulb attached to the other opening of the pump

chamber should then be squeezed repeatedly until the chamber is filled or all

the water drawn up. Do not overfill the pump for this may clog the bulb. The

rubber tube is then withdrawn from the crabhole and the rubber stopper con-

necting it to the chamber removed from the pump as well as the bulb together

with its fitting. Now one or more plastic cups, as needed, are filled about

three-quarters full of water from the pump chamber using the large opening.

The rest of the water is poured through a dip net bag to recover the immature

stages and to concentrate the food and debris. The bag should then be inverted

and dipped several times into the water in the plastic cups to wash off all the

material. Crabholes become quickly refilled with ground water and should be

pumped out repeatedly until all the immature stages are recovered.

A record should be made of the size of the crabhole; a large one is arbitra-

rily designated as being 5 centimeters (2 inches) or over in diameter for the

purpose of our records. The species of crab should be determined if possible

and all information on the condition of the crabhole should be recorded.

Other animal burrows or cavities in the ground partially filled with water

may serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes, as has been found to be the case

for a number of species of Aedes in Australia (Marks 1957). Any potential

breeding sites of this type should be investigated with the aid of a mosquito ©

pump.

12. Rockholes. Holes in various types of rock in a variety of locations

serve as specific breeding sites for a number of mosquitoes of the genera Ano-

pheles, Culex, Uranotaenia and especially Aedes. These sites may also be

utilized by some general ground water breeders in the same genera as wellas

some Dixinae, Bironella, Culiseta and Haemagogus. The most common types

of rockholes are in various types of rocks (sedimentary, igneous or metamor-

phic) along the sides of streams, and pot holes in boulders in or around the

stream bed. Similar types of holes with quite a different fauna are found along

the seashore. Holes in volcanic or coral rocks in various locations, often away

from streams or the seaside, may also serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes.

The immature stages are readily captured in all these sites with a pipette, dip-

per or dip net depending upon the size of the hole. Occasionally a pump may be

useful to empty a deep narrow rockhole. Since the food is frequently rather

limited in these habitats the contents of rockholes should be stirred up vigor-

ously after the immature stages are captured and added to the water in the

plastic cup after filtering through a dip net bag. souls debris, sticks, leaves

and so on, should be removed however.

SI Re OO Oe AAT Fy POI a EA,

ee Sake es

SO OE RP ETE SR EE eg, a Ne eS Se Sein Rae

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 39

13. Artificial containers. Many species which normally breed in natural

containers such as treeholes, bamboo, fallen plant material and apparently

even those that breed in leaf axils and flower bracts may utilize various types

of artificial containers. Some ground water breeders may utilize large artifi-

cial containers. When conditions are suitable, populations in artificial contain-

ers may be extremely high.

Any man-made object that will hold water may serve as an artificial breed-

ing site, ranging from water tanks, disused swimming pools and boats to tires,

tin cans, bottles, cups and saucers, flower vases and canvas. Collections from

different containers should be kept separate and given individual collection num-

bers. It is important to note the size of the container (a large one is arbitra-

rily defined to container 10 liters (2 and one half gallons) or more of water) and

all the conditions indicated on the collection cards within and outside the con-

tainer since this information may help to locate the natural breeding sites of

some species collected to date only in artificial containers.

With small containers, the immature stages may be poured directly into a

plastic cup after stirring the contents. When more water is present the im-

mature stages and larvae may be concentrated by pouring most of the water

through a dip net bag and washing this off into a plastic cup. For the very large

containers, dippers or dip nets should be used and care must be taken to take

along some food and debris with the water.

14. Treeholes. The term treehole is used here for all types of water ac-

cumulations in standing and usually living trees, primarily in rotholes but also

on the surface of the trunks, buttresses or aerial roots. The deep rotholes,

often with very narrow horizontal openings, are the most specific type. A very

large number of species are restricted to breeding sites in treeholes, includ-

ing representatives of Anopheles, Uranotaenia, Culex, Culiseta, Ficalbia, Or-

ee ee

nan TE

Wyeomyia, Sabethes, Toxorhynchites and Corethrella. Many additional species

may occasionally use large treeholes for breeding. The water in treeholes is

usually temporary, but at least some types of treeholes (tree wells) appear to

contain water throughout the year even in areas with very limited rainfall.

Treeholes do not seem to be abundant in areas where epiphytes are common,

probably because the latter become established in rotholes soon after they ap-

pear. However, it is possible that some treeholes are hidden between epi-

phytes in tree crotches or at the base of branches. Very little information is

available about the specificity of the association of mosquitoes with a particu-

lar species of host tree but it is likely that a considerable degree of specificity

for at least some forms will be shown eventually as is evident now with bamboo

which is accordingly treated separately below.

Relatively few species of plants harbor treeholes suitable for mosquito

breeding and considerable time has to be spent searching for these. All parts

of the tree should be carefully examined. Some rotholes have very narrow

openings which appear to form at the point of origin of a branchlet ona large

branch or main trunk. Frequently a rothole can be spotted ona tree by a

stain indicating overflow of water from its rim. The presence of biting adults

of species known to use treeholes is also indicative of treeholes in the vicinity.

Water in treeholes is frequently so dark that it is difficult to determine the

presence of immature stages by direct inspection in the breeding site or even

by a careful search in the water removed with a pipette into a deep container.

40 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no,. 2; 1965

The following technique is suggested for all treehole collections in order to re-

cover as much of the material as possible, including eggs. If the opening into

the treehole is very small it should be enlarged with a knife to the width of the

cavity below. The sides of the hole above the water line should be scraped and

washed with a strong stream from a pipette filled with treehole water.

If the treehole is small (arbitrarily defined as one containing less than 1 li-

ter (quart) of water) an ordinary collecting pipette or preferably a battery pi-

pette should be used to remove all the water into a container of a suitable size.

Clean fresh water is then poured into the treehole, the contents thoroughly agi-

tated and all the water and debris removed with the pipette and added to the ori-

ginal collection. Some of this water is used to fill one or more plastic cups

three-quarters full. The remainder of the collection is now poured through a

dip net bag for concentration, the water itself being saved to refill the treehole.

To determine the presence of immature stages or to sort them, the concentrate

in the dip net bag is transferred to a plastic bowl or pan containing clean fresh

water by immersing and agitating the inverted bag. Large chunks of debris,

leaves, sticks, etc. are picked up, washed in the bowl and discarded. After

the inspection or sorting is completed, the water and all the material from the

bowl is poured through a dip net bag again and the concentrate washed into one

or more of the plastic cups containing some of the original water from the tree-

hole.

If the treehole is a large one (containing 1 liter (quart) of water or more) a

small or large mosquito pump should be used to remove the water employing

the technique of pumping described above under 11. Crabholes. The rest of

the procedure outlined above should be followed to concentrate the collection

except that some of the excess water from the first pumping may be used to

wash the treehole for the second pumping. Upon completion of the collection

all the excess water should be returned to the treehole and fresh clean water

used to fill it.

Every collection from each individual treehole should be given a separate

collection number (lot) and notation made on the collection form of all data per-

taining to each. Occasion may arise to collect in the same treeholes at a later

date, particularly if an unusual form is discovered. The scientific or common

name of the tree should also be noted. .

As indicated above in the section on COLLECTING EGGS AND DRY MA-

TERIAL debris should be collected from dry treeholes if there is any indica-

tion that they may have held water at some time.

15. Fallen trees. Accumulations of water in depressions on fallen trees

are utilized by a variety of species for breeding. Apparently very little speci-

ficity exists for this type of habitat but accurate information is needed on this

point. Both container and ground water breeders have been noted from fallen

trees. The techniques of capturing discussed under treeholes and large artifi-

cial containers should be used.

16. Bamboo. The mosquito fauna of bamboo is essentially similar to that of

treeholes in general on the generic level but it is evident that there is a great

deal of specificity for bamboo by many species, groups and subgenera. Includ-

ed with bamboo should be other arborescent or large grasses commonly called

reeds (Phragmites). In general in any one area the specific bamboo breeders

are to be found only in the bamboo indigenous to that area. Two markedly dif-

ferent types of habitat in bamboo are apparent: (1) cut or broken bamboo wheth-

er standing or fallen, provides sites for the general container breeders and the

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 41

less specialized bamboo fauna and (2) internodes of uncut bamboo with small or

medium-sized holes made primarily by insects (Macdonald 1960: 136-146) har-

bor a specialized and unique fauna. Species of the following genera are known

rhynchites and Corethrella.

Collecting in cut, broken or fallen bamboo is readily accomplished with a

battery pipette or small mosquito pump as in treeholes (see). For uncut inter-

nodes the entrance hole or holes may be enlarged to introduce the rubber tube

from a small mosquito pump. Alternately the culm may be cut above the hole

but this destroys the breeding site and preferably this should be avoided. <A

careful search should be made for uncut internode breeding sites in bamboo

shoots and culms of different age and with different size entrance holes for

there may be great specificity in the utilization of sites in this respect by dif-

ferent species of mosquitoes. Collections from each internode should be given

separate collection numbers (lot) and all the specific information about each re-

corded carefully.

Since breeding sites in uncut bamboo internodes are difficult to find it is

suggested that artificial ''worm" holes be bored with a brace and bit in culms

of different age. These artificial breeding sites should be marked with a wax

pencil and checked periodically for breeding.

17. Animal containers on ground. A few species of mosquitoes have been

found breeding in water collections inside the empty shells of land snails in the

Old World tropics but apparently this potential habitat has not been checked ex-

tensively in the New World. Other animal remains with accumulations of water

should also be checked. Whenever the shell or remains can be identified the

name of the animal should be given.

18. Fallen leaves, fronds, spathes. Large leaves, fronds and flower

spathes (particularly palms) lying on the ground accumulate water which is used

as breeding sites by a large number of species of the genera Culex, Uranotae-

nia, Zeugnomyia, Armigeres, Aedes (several subgenera), Eretmapodites,

Tripteroides, Trichoprosopon and Limatus. Immature stages from such sites

are easily collected with a pipette or by pouring the contents directly into plas-

tic cups after thoroughly agitating the water to wash off any eggs that may be

stranded above the water surface. With the larger fronds and spathes the con-

tents should be concentrated first in a dip net bag as with treehole material

(see). Care should always be taken to treat the contents of each site as a sep-

arate collection and a note made of the exact nature of the container, if possi-

ble indicating the species of plant. |

19. Fallen fruits, nuts, rinds. Many kinds of fruits and nuts with fibrous,

woody or stony layers fallen on the ground frequently collect water which is

known to be used for breeding by a large number of species of the genera Ura-

notaenia, Culex, Armigeres, Aedes (several subgenera), Haemagogus, Trip-

teroides, Trichoprosopon, Wyeomyia, Limatus. The most common breeding

sites are in coconut shells and coconut husks. The water in the plant container

should be agitated and poured into plastic cups. It is advisable to wash the con-

tainer with fresh clean water and to save this also. The type of container

should be noted and a careful record made of the water condition, particularly

with respect to the amount and type of organic matter present.

42 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

20. Attached fruits. Occasionally water collects in opened nuts or pods

which remain attached on trees. Rat-eaten cacao pods are known to breed

mosquitoes in the South Pacific islands and possibly similar breeding sites will

be found elsewhere. The contents should be agitated and poured off into a plas-

tic cup, the inside of the nuts thoroughly washed and the wash water added to

the original contents. The type of fruit should be specified as well as a notation

made about the nature of its contents.

21. Leaf and frond axils. Many species of monocotyledonous plants, both

herbaceous and woody, hold for long periods of time a considerable quantity of

water in the leaf or frond axils and petiole bases. These water holding plants

have a unique and very large mosquito fauna with representatives of the major-

ity of genera including Anopheles, Uranotaenia, Culex (Several subgenera), Fi-

calbia, Orthopodomyia, Eretmapodites, Armigeres, Aedes (several subgenera),

a sg i eee

em i nn ees 4

Limatus, Sabethes, Toxorhynchites and Corethrella. Nearly all the species

utilizing these sites are restricted to them. Only a few species, particularly

on small islands, may utilize other container sites and a few introduced con-

tainer breeders occasionally invade leaf axils. The specificity of the associa-

tion of a mosquito species with a host plant species varies considerably but has

not been thoroughly determined. It appears to be greatest with host plants

which secrete a substance into the axil water which makes it slimy or gelatinous.

Any plant containing water in its axils should be examined for mosquito

breeding but especially members of the following groups: pandanus family

(Pandanus, Freycinetia, Sararanga), sedges (Gahnia); palms (many genera; es-

pecially young plants and Nipa and Sago palms), arum family (Colocasia, Alo-

casia, Xanthosoma, Dieffenbachia, Montrichardia and probably many other

plants resembling taro and elephant's ears), bromeliads (the entire family Bro-

meliaceae including the edible pineapple), lily family in the broad sense (Dra-

caena, Cordyline, Collospermum, Astelia, Sansevieria, Smilax and probably

many others), amaryllis family (Crinum), banana family (Musa, Strelitzia,

Heliconia, Ravenala, Phenakospermum), ginger family (Zingiber, Curucuma),

arrowroot family (Calathea, Maranta). In general only native plants will be

found to contain native mosquitoes; introduced, cultivated or ornamental plants

normally do not breed any mosquitoes but occasionally may breed introduced

species.

The amount of water necessary for breeding is sometimes negligible and

larvae have been found in leaf axils of native bananas where only a slimy muck

could be recovered. In general, larvae in axils cling to the plant very closely

and in some species are known to crawl from one axil to another. Considering

this, great care should be taken in collecting and also in cleaning collecting

tools, pipettes especially, between collections to prevent contamination.

Very little is known about the specificity of breeding sites on a single host

plant but it appears that water and light conditions are frequently different in

axils in different parts of a plant and it has been noted that different species

may be present in upper and lower axils. Therefore an effort should be made

to keep collections from different axils separate if this can possibly be done.

The location of the breeding site with respect to the ground is also important.

It should also be noted whether a plant is epiphytic or terrestrial and the height

of the epiphytes above the ground noted. For tall terrestrial plants the height

of the axil above ground should be indicated also.

The method of collecting must be adapted to the type of plant. Epiphytic

plants, such as bromeliads, should be carefully dislodged from the tree and

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 43

lowered to the ground. All the extraneous debris is then carefully removed,

washed and discarded and the leaves are cut to just above the level of the water

and discarded. The plant is then carefully inverted into a clean bucket to re-

move the axillary water; some of this water is used to fill one or more plastic

cups three-quarters full.. Each leaf base, starting from the bottom of the plant,

is peeled off and washed in a pan of clean fresh water. The axillary water ac-

cumulating in the bucket and the wash water from the pan are then poured

through a dip net bag which is then inverted and washed several times into the

plastic cups to dislodge the immature stages and fine debris.

The same procedure may be followed for a terrestrial bromeliad by cutting

off the plant at ground level or pulling it out carefully from the soil. If this is

not possible, then the leaves are trimmed in place and a pipette is used to with-

draw water from the axils into a container of suitable size from which one or

more plastic cups are filled three-quarters full. Next, the upper (central) part

of the plant is cut out a little at a time and the leaves washed in a pan of clean

fresh water until the base is reached. Any water accumulating in the lower ax-

ils as this is being done should be pipetted out and placed with the original col-

lection. The final concentration of the material is done the same way as above.

The same technique is recommended for recovery of immature stages from

terrestrial and epiphytic liliaceous plants as well as grasslike pandanus. A

less laborious method in which the plant is not destroyed but which results in

the loss of many larvae, is to withdraw the axillary water directly with a bat-

tery pipette into a plastic cup or some other suitable container. The axils

should be washed repeatedly with fresh water.

With heliconias, young bananas and similar musaceous plants the flower

stalks if present should be cut off first and examined for mosquitoes as indica-

ted in the next section. The leaves are then all cut off carefully above the wa-

ter line in each axil starting with the highest and discarded. If there is any

visible water in the axils it is removed with a battery pipette and used to fill

one or more plastic cups to the usual level. The plant is then cut off from the

ground below the lowest axil containing water after all the soil around it is

carefully scraped away. Next, place the whole plant into a large empty bucket

without inverting and peel off each leaf starting from the base. One leaf at a

time should be removed and washed in a pan of clean fresh water and examined

carefully for larvae and pupae that may cling to it. The axillary water accu-

mulating in the bucket is used to fill the plastic cups as needed; the rest after

removal of large debris (be careful to wash it off) is passed through a dip net

bag along with the wash water from the pan and the concentrate placed in the

plastic cups in the usual manner.

, With aroids and palms it is usually possible to collect immature stages

without destroying the plant by withdrawing water from the axils directly with

a battery pipette into a plastic cup or some other suitable container. Care

should be taken to wash the axils repeatedly with fresh clean water. For some

aroids, and palms as well, it may be necessary to use the longer method out-

lined for terrestrial bromeliads above.

For large, woody pandanus the leaves must be carefully cut above the water

line and then the first method suggested for the aroids and palms used. Im-

mature stages in pandanus lianas (Freycinetia) are readily collected directly

with a battery pipette or even a smaller ordinary pipette but again it is essen-

tial to wash repeatedly with fresh clean water to recover all the immature

stages.

44 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

Whenever possible the plants should be photographed and a record made of

the flower size and color for identification purposes. Inflorescences (fresh or

dead) as well as a specimen of leaf should be collected as herbarium specimens.

Indicate on the collection form the name of the plant if known.

22. Flower bracts, spathes. Flowers or inflorescences with large horizon-

tal bracts or spathes containing water provide breeding sites for a considerable

number of species of mosquitoes of several genera. The majority of plants

with flower breeding belong to the banana family (Strelitzia, Heliconia and Piie-

nakospermum especially), gingers (Zingiber, Curcuma) and arrowroots (Cala-

thea, Maranta) but others have been reported (Sapria in-the Rafflesia family).

To collect the immature stages, the inflorescence (flower stalk) is cut off and

the bulk of the water is removed with a pipette of appropriate size to a plastic

cup. The inflorescence is then placed in a pan of clean fresh water and each

part is separated and carefully washed. The large debris is removed before

the wash water is filtered through a dip net bag. The concentrate is then added

to the water in the plastic cup in the usual manner. As in all other collections

the material from each inflorescence is given a separate collection number.

The name of the plant should be recorded in the blank space provided on the

form and if possible a photograph taken. For specific identification of the plant

inflorescences (fresh or dead) as well as a specimen of leaf should be collected

as herbarium specimens. Several immature flowers should also be preserved

in alcohol or formalin in a plastic vial.

23. Pitcher plants. The most specialized and unique breeding sites for mos-

quitoes are in the pitchers of carnivorous plants of the genera Sarracenia (New

World) and Nepenthes (Old World). The latter has representative species of

mosquitoes of nearly all the Old World genera which utilize container habitats

and all of these (some doubtful exceptions) are restricted to Nepenthes. In the

New World only 2 species of Wyeomyia are known from Sarracenia (eastern

North America) but species of the related pitcher plant genus Heliamphora are

known from the Guiana highlands (British Guiana and Venezuela) and may serve

as a breeding site for other sabethines. Pitcher plants of the genera Darling-

tonia (California and Oregon) and Cephalotus (southwestern Australia) apparent-

ly are not used by mosquitoes although they have not been thoroughly studied.

The immature stages in pitcher plants are not easily seen for the larvae are

sluggish and remain in the bottom of the pitchers. To collect them the pitchers

should be carefully detached, emptied of their contents and thoroughly washed

with clean fresh water which should be added to the collection. Collections from —

different pitchers should be kept separate and given individual collection num-

bers (lots). Notation should be made of the species of plant and of the condition

of the water. Care must be taken not to destroy whole colonies of pitcher plants,

some of which are protected by law. :

24. Traps. Immature stages of a number of species of container breeding

mosquitoes may be obtained in bamboo pots, i.e. sections of bamboo internodes

filled with fresh clean water and placed on the ground or suspended in suitable

protected spots at different heights in clumps of bamboo or intrees. Species

otherwise difficult or impossible to collect may be recovered in this way. Dif-

ferent types of bamboo traps should be used to simulate natural breeding sites,

some completely open, others with small lateral openings, some cut from young

ereen shoots of varying length, others from older woody culms. The water in

the pots should be checked and periodically refilled to dislodge eggs laid above

the water level. As suggested above in item 16, holes may be bored in live

bamboo culms to produce artificial breeding sites.

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 45

Other types of traps, (such as wooden tubs of water set out in the forest),

should be tried also, particularly during the dry season in areas where adults

of the desired species are abundant. A notation should always be made of the

type of trap used. Collections from individual traps should be kept separate

and assigned individual numbers.

HEIGHT OF BREEDING SITE ABOVE GROUND. This should be indicated

in meters for all collections in treeholes, bamboo, fallen trees, attached fruits,

leaf axils and flower bracts, aerial pitcher plants and traps located above

eround.

WATER. The condition of the water in every breeding site must be care-

fully determined and all appropriate items indicated by circling, underscoring

or writing in.

1. Permanence. Permanent breeding sites have water present throughout

the year; this can usually be determined by the presence of true aquatic plants

in case of ground water habitats; crabholes, pitcher plants and the larger bro-

meliads and astelias usually contain permanent water. Semi-permanent breed-

ing sites have water throughout most of the year but dry up by the end of the dry

season for a month or longer; many Swamps and the margins of lakes and ponds

are semi-permanent; some container habitats, particularly large treeholes and

the leaf axils of large bromeliads are semi-permanent. Temporary habitats

are characterized by the presence of water for only short periods of time; most

temporary ground pools are filled by rainwater but dry up quickly and lack aqua-

tic and semi-aquatic vegetation; most container habitats (small treeholes, bam-

boo, leaf axils, etc.) have temporary rainwater.

2. Clarity. Indicate for all breeding sites whether the water is clear or

turbid and if it is colored note the color. :

3. Movement. For ground water sites indicate whether the water is stag-

nant or if it shows a slow, moderate or strong flow. :

4. Salt content. Indicate for ground water sites if the water is fresh, brack-

ish or salty.

5. Organic contamination. For all sites, particularly small containers, if

the water is foul smelling, contains gelatinous or slimy material, or has fer-

menting organic material (e.g. decaying coconut meat) underscore the appro-

priate item.

VEGETATION IN THE BREEDING SITE. This section applies primarily

to habitats on the ground. Check all the items and indicate the appropriate

ones by circling or underscoring.

1. Abundance. Indicate the relative abundance or total absence of all types

of vegetation and surface debris.

2. Small surface vegetation and debris. Indicate the presence of (1) flo-

tage, i.e. floating sticks, chaff, leaves, (2) bacterial scum, (3) algae of all

kinds.

3. Large vegetation. Indicate all types of conspicuous vegetation present

in the site. Grassy vegetation includes all types of grasslike forms, herba-

ceous indicates forms such as cattails, sedges, rushes, etc. and woody, pri-

marily shrubs andtrees. For floating vegetation write in the name (water let-

tuce, water hyacinth, water lily; if known give the scientific name). Do the

same for submerged vegetation (pond weed, filamentous algae, etc.).

BOTTOM. For all breeding sites indicate the presence and nature of the

following materials in the bottom: 1. Inorganic material, whether it is mud,

sand, gravel or rock. 2. Organic material: specify the type of decaying plant

matter (leaves, sticks, fine sediment) and the type of decaying animal matter

(feces, urine and domestic wastes).

46 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

INCIDENTAL COLLECTIONS

It may be possible for individuals not engaged specifically in a mosquito sur-

vey to make valuable collections of mosquitoes while in the field but without the

time, equipment and facilities required for the type of collections mentioned in

the preceding two chapters. The basic equipment necessary for such incidental

collecting would be 2 or more killing tubes, an aspirator, a folding aerial net,

a supply of plastic pillboxes with paper toweling or cellucotton, a medicine

dropper, a medium sized pipette, a battery pipette, 2 or more plastic cups with

lids, a supply of plastic bags, a supply of shell vials with 80% ethanol, absor-

bent cotton, entomological forceps, label strips and a supply of collection forms.

Wherever adults are encountered (for specific places see chapter on ADULT

COLLECTIONS) they may be collected directly into killing tubes or gently blown

from the aspirator into the killing tube after collection with the net or the aspi-

rator. Mosquitoes should not be left in killing tubes for longer than 30 minutes

and it is important that the tissue paper strips in the tubes be replaced as soon

as they show evidence of moisture. After completion of a collection, fill out

the collection form as indicated in the chapter on ADULT COLLECTIONS.

Empty the killing tubes on a smooth clean surface in a place protected from

strong air currents. Using the entomological forceps place the adults carefully

in a plastic pillbox between layers of paper toweling or cellucotton (for details

see chapter on KILLING AND PRESERVATION). Write out the collection num-

ber (lot) on a strip of paper and place the label in a separate layer above the

specimens. Several collections may be preserved in one pillbox but be sure to

mark these carefully. Pillboxes should be stored in a dry place and care must

be taken that they are tightly closed. Use adhesive tape to seal them.

Wherever immature stages are encountered (see chapter on COLLECTION

OF IMMATURE STAGES for specific sites) they may be captured directly with

an ordinary pipette or a battery pipette or they may be dipped out of the water

with a plastic cup by gradually lowering the cup around edges or by quickly

scooping in more open situations. Transfer the immature stages with a pipette

to a plastic cup with fresh clean water, serially through several cups if much

sediment is carried over. Then kill the larvae and pupae by transferring them,

one or a few at a time, to the shell vials containing 80% ethanol. To avoid di-

luting the alcohol excessively, use a medicine dropper and squeeze out most of

the water while holding the dropper against a finger. Place no more than about

5-10 larvae or pupae into one vial depending upon their size. Insert a small

loose plug of cotton into the vial above the immature stages (not touching) after

they drop down to the bottom and place a label with the collection number above

the cotton plug. Make sure that the immature stages are not trapped between

the walls of the vial and the cotton. To speed up killing of immature stages

place the vial, before and/or after transferring the larvae and pupae, into di-

rect sunlight. Fill out the collection form carefully as indicated in the chapter

on COLLECTION OF IMMATURE STAGES. Pay particular attention to col-

lecting in container habitats (treeholes, crabholes, rockholes, plant axils and

bracts, pitcher plants, plant parts on the ground and so on) for the largest

number of species and the most interesting forms will be found there.

When dry treeholes that might serve as breeding sites are encountered,

collect debris from the sides and bottom into plastic bags. Place a large label

with the collection number inside the bag.

For storage and shipment of material follow the suggestions in the last

chapter.

‘i

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 47

SORTING AND REARING

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. A large cool room with electricity, run-

ning water and several tables or laboratory benches serves very well as a sim-

ple laboratory for mosquito rearing. The room should be ant-proof but if it is

not, the legs of the tables or benches should be placed in cans of oil. Air-con-

ditioning is a convenience for the workers but is not necessary or even desirable

for mosquito rearing. Mosquito rearing may be done under much more primi-

tive conditions, in a tent, camper, trailer, a passenger car and even on the

trail, but in these cases the techniques and equipment described below must be

modified to the particular situation. However the general technique is the same

in all cases.

A laboratory or a collapsible stereoscopic field microscope is extremely

useful but a good hand lens (10X to 20X) is usually sufficient. The basic equip-

ment and supplies required for rearing and processing are (1) pipettes and med-

icine droppers, (2) aspirators, (3) dip net bags, (4) plastic, enamel or porce-

lain sorting bowls, (5) plastic cups with lids, (6) plastic cup cages, (7) plastic

vials with lids, (8) plastic vial cages, (9) plastic pillboxes, (10) pencils, grease

pencils, label strips, (11) paper towels and tissue, (12) forceps, camel's hair

brushes. All the equipment should be for use exclusively in the laboratory and

should not be taken into the field.

CARE OF COLLECTIONS AND SORTING. Immediately after a field trip

all the collections must be checked carefully. If possible some sorting should

also be done at this time but it may be postponed to a later hour or to the fol- »

lowing day after taking care of emerged adults and the isolation of pupae and at

least a few larvae (particularly if dealing with Psorophora). The grease pen-

cil marks on all containers should be made plain if smudged.

1. Killed adults. The plastic cups and vials with killed adults should be

opened and a drop or two of water added to the paper to keep the specimens

from drying out. The processing of this material should be done within 24

hours of capture using the technique outlined under FIELD COLLECTED

ADULTS in the next chapter.

2. Oviposition vials. The oviposition vials should be opened carefully and

checked. If insufficient moisture is present a drop of water should be added.

If the vial is excessively humid the female should be transferred to a fresh ovi-

position vial by loosening the lid of the old vial, carefully slipping the mouth of

the new vial under this lid and allowing the female to move up into the new vial

which is then capped and marked with the same number in grease pencil on the

side and lid (the old lid may be used after it is dried). Set the vials aside for

further processing as outlined below under PROGENY REARINGS.

3. Emergence and pupation. The plastic cups with immature stages require

the greatest care. If a large number of adults have emerged in a cup, place an

aerial net over it, carefully slip off the lid and let the adults move up into the

inverted net, tapping on the side of the cup to drive them out. Now remove the

net, confine the adults into the upper part of the net and remove them with an

aspirator to a plastic cup cage marked with the collection number in grease

pencil. If only a few adults have emerged they can usually be sucked up with

an aspirator slipped in under the lid and then transferred to one or more plas-

tic vial cages. The pupal skins are handled as indicated under EMERGENCE

VIALS AND CAGES. The vial cages should be provided with a pencilled paper

48 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

label slipped under the lid. The cup and vial cages are set aside for 1 or 2

days after which the adults are killed and processed as indicated in the next

chapter.

If there is a large number of pupae in any cup they should be transferred

with a pipette to another cup with about 2 cm (about 1 inch) of fresh clean water

and this cup covered with a aaa top and the side marked with the collection

number in grease pencil.

4. Sorting. The sorting of the immature stages and their separation for in-

dividual rearings, mass rearings and preservations can now be carried out.

The sooner this is done the better and this should always be completed within

24 hours of capture. Work with one collection at a time going through the whole

process before turning to the next collection. If more than one plastic cup con-

tains immature stages from the same collection or if pupal and/or larval iso-

lations were made in the field assemble them all together.

Generally, more than one species is found in a single collection of imma-

ture stages even when collections are made from individual breeding sites such

as one crabhole, one treehole or one water-holding plant, but as a rule one spe-

cies is dominant in a particular collection and the others are frequently repre-

sented by few specimens or by younger larval instars, by pupae or by eggs. It

is more important to make fewer collections in which all the species have been

recovered and the different stages of each (larva, pupa and adult, male and fe-

male) correctly associated (through individual rearings) than to make many col-

lections in which these objectives have not been carried out. Therefore the

emphasis below is on thoroughness of sorting and rearing but with indication of

simpler, less time-consuming methods which may have to be followed at times

for one reason or another.

When a collection contains little debris and sediment it is possible to do the

sorting directly from the original plastic cup after the sediment has settled and

as the larvae and pupae come to the surface.

First, all the pupae that were not isolated for rearing in the field are trans-

ferred one to a plastic vial in about 2 cm (Somewhat less than one inch) of fresh

clean water. The plastic vials are marked with the collection number in grease

pencil. These will be later processed as indicated below under pupal rearings

in the section on INDIVIDUAL REARINGS together with any pupae that may —

have been isolated from the same collection in the field. As arule, all the pu-

pae present in a collection should be isolated individually unless the collection

consists primarily of pupae and the total number exceeds 15 in which case see

under MASS REARINGS below for procedure to be followed. If it is obvious

that several species are represented among the pupae or an unusual species is

suspected a larger number should be isolated individually (see pupal rearings

below).

Second, the fourth instar larvae are roughly sorted by eye to species,

picked up one by one and placed into separate plastic cups for each species.

Each cup is marked in grease pencil with the collection number followed by a

dash and then a separate sublot number for each species, sublot 1 for one spe-

cies, sublot 2 for the second species, and so on as necessary to sublot 9 for

the ninth species. When more than 9 species are found in one collection as-

sign another collection number, indicate that it is a continuation of the origi-

nal collection number and use the 9 sublots in this new lot as needed. Use

general appearance, color, size, movement, position in the water, size and

shape of head capsule and antenna, hairiness of body, length and shape of si-

phon as criteria for distinguishing different species from one another. Fre-

quently the pattern of abdominal pigmentation will help distinguish some

a i

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 49

species, e.g. fourth abdominal segment unpigmented and contrasting with the

other strongly pigmented segments. Leave the smaller instars in the original

cup unless they can be associated with fourth instar larvae on the basis of the

characters mentioned above.

Third, for each sublot isolate half of the total number of mature larvae, up

to a maximum of 10, in plastic vials for individual rearings. When there is an

uneven number of larvae the total number is treated as if it were the next even

number for the purpose of making isolations, i.e. if only one larva is present

it is used for an individual rearing, if there are 3, two are isolated, if there

are 5, three are isolated and so on. The individual vials are filled with water

from the original collection cup to a height of about 2 cm (somewhat less than

one inch), marked with the collection number (lot) and the sublot number in

grease pencil and set aside to be processed as indicated below under INDIVID-

UAL REARINGS. The remaining larvae in each sublot, normally up to a max-

imum of 20, are set aside for killing and preservation (see next chapter) and

any larvae left over in each sublot are transferred into a clean plastic cup with

about 2 cm (inch or less) of water from the original collection, marked with the

collection number (lot) and sublot in grease pencil and processed as indicated

below under MASS REARINGS. If an unusual species is encountered and the

number of larvae remaining in a sublot is greater than 50 the larvae should be

divided equally for killing and for mass rearing. In case it is not practical to

take care of a large number of mass rearings because of shortage of personnel

or some other reason all the larvae remaining after isolation of individuals

should be killed and preserved; NEVER DISCARD ANY MATERIAL ONCE

COLLECTED.

The unsorted material left in the plastic cup(s) from the original collection,

containing young larvae and marked with the collection number only should be

treated as indicated below under MASS REARINGS. ;

Frequently it will be impossible to sort the larvae and pupae directly from

the plastic cups brought in from the field because of the dark color of the water

or the presence of a great deal of debris or sediment. In such cases the con-

tents are agitated with a pipette and poured through a dip net bag. The original

water is saved and returned to the original cup(s) or to clean plastic cup(s)

plainly marked with the collection number (lot) in grease pencil. If the origi-

nal plastic cup is discarded be sure to wash it off thoroughly to save any eggs

that may be stranded on the sides and pass this water through the dip net bag.

Now the concentrate in the dip net bag is dipped into the sorting pan(s) with

ample quantity of clean fresh water and carefully washed off; if necessary use

a stream from a squeeze bottle or a pipette to dislodge all the material. It

may be necessary to subdivide the material for sorting into additional pans a

little at a time. The procedure outlined above for the separation of pupae, sub-

lots and individual rearings is now followed; only the original water is used for

the larval rearing. When the sorting is completed, the water in the sorting

pans, containing debris and small larvae, is passed through a dip net bag, the

concentrate replaced into the original collection water in one or more plastic

cups and the wash water discarded. Be sure to wash the sorting pans thor-

oughly and to add the concentrate to the plastic cups with the original water be-

fore they are further processed as indicated below under MASS REARINGS.

Great care should be taken to rinse thoroughly sorting pans and pipettes be-

tween processings of different collections to eliminate contamination.

It is sometimes impossible to go through all the steps indicated above for

the sorting of material and to make lot and/or sublot mass rearings (see

50 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst:, vol..1, no. 2, 1965

MASS REARINGS below) in addition to individual rearings. It may be difficult

even to sort the larvae to species. Larval isolations for individual rearings

should always be made but in extreme cases the remainder of the collection

may be killed and preserved as indicated in the next chapter.

WASHING CONTAINERS. All containers used for collecting, sorting and

rearing must be washed thoroughly before they are used again. First, wipe off

the grease pencil markings from the dry containers with a piece of absorbent

cotton. Containers that are reasonably clean, without deposit of salts on the in-

ner walls, may be merely rinsed several times in clean fresh water. Soiled

plastic containers should be washed with water and ordinary soap only, never

with detergents or with scouring or cleansing powders or compounds. Use a

nylon test tube brush to remove stains and deposits. Be sure to wash out very

thoroughly all the rubber bulbs after detaching them from the pipettes. Plastic

vial cages should have the cotton replaced as soon as they show any growth of

molds or become soiled (see GLOSSARY for method). Aspirators should also

be cleaned periodically and the netting replaced on the plug.

ORGANIZATION OF LABORATORY. Even when a small number of collec-

tions is being reared it is important to organize all the material systematically

in the laboratory to eliminate confusion and to save time. Two general methods

are suggested below, the choice between the two depends on the amount of ma-

terial, number of individual rearings and the available personnel.

When the number of collections is relatively small (less than 10) and the to-

tal number of individual rearings at any one time is less than 100, all the con-

tainers pertaining to each collection may be placed together, the general lot

mass rearing, the sublot mass rearings, the individual pupal and larval rear-

ings, the holding vial cages for adults, the collection record forms together

with the label strips and the shell vials containing the larval and pupal skins.

Small shallow boxes or special racks to hold the individual plastic vials and

cages containing the various stages in groups are very useful but not essential.

Under these conditions one shell vial may be used for both the larval and pupal

skin of the same individual rearing. The larval skin is transferred from the

rearing vial together with its label but the cotton plug is placed into the vial

only after the corresponding pupal skin is later added when the larval label is

withdrawn and matched with the pupal label; both labels are then placed above

the cotton plug before final stoppering. It is important to have both labels in

the vial for this provides a check for correct association of skins.

With a large number of collections (10 or over) and with more than a total

of 100 individual rearings being carried out at one time, it is much more ef-

ficient to arrange the containers together in groups as follows: (1) all the mass

rearings but with all sublots pertaining to one collection (lot) assembled in sub-

groups together with the general lot of the same collection, (2) all the individ-

ual vials with larvae, (3) all the individual vials with pupae, (4) all the cages

(vial and cup) containing adults isolated for less than 24 hours, (5) the same

as (4) but held over 24 hours. The collection record forms, with the strips of

individual numbers attached, should be filed all in one place, where all the

records will be made. With this arrangement each of the groups listed above

is attended to one at a time until all the work for a group is completed and the

records and labeling is done as indicated below under MASS REARINGS and

INDIVIDUAL REARINGS. Much time is saved if the larval and pupal skins,

each with its own identifying individual number, are placed in separate shell

vials. The association of the stages is done later when the material is mounted. '

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods St

It is very important to prepare for each collection strips of replicate num-

bers for labeling individual rearings as specified in the section on LABELING

in the chapter on COLLECTION RECORDS. See also this chapter for labeling

of material from sublots.

MASS REARINGS. Three types of mass rearings are distinguished here:

(1) lot mass rearings, the general collection not sorted to species or the young

larvae and eggs from the original collection that remain after the fourth instar

larvae have been removed, (2) sublot mass rearings, the larvae sorted from

the original collection, each presumably containing only one species and (3)

progeny mass rearings. After sorting, a lot rearing with its sublot rearings

are placed in a group in the mass rearing area and the cups covered by placing

an inverted lid on top; it is not necessary or advisable to seal the container in

the ordinary way. Mark on the outside of the cup in grease pencil the level of

the water inside the cup. If marked evaporation takes place, the water lost

should be replaced with distilled water if available, otherwise tap water will do.

Every cup must be examined twice each day. Examine one lot and its sub-

lots at one time. If in the lot mass rearing an additional species is noted which

has not been segregated as a sublot, sort it out, assign it a sublot and mark the

plastic cup with the lot and sublot number in sequence following the last sublot

already assigned in this lot. When the larvae in the new sublot(s) are mature,

isolate some for individual rearings, set aside others for killing and preserva-

tion and retain the remainder for mass rearing (see CARE OF COLLECTIONS

AND SORTING above for details). The lot mass rearings should be retained

for at least 10 days to allow hatching and development of young larvae.

Check every lot and sublot in the collection record forms to determine

whether further pupal or larval isolations are necessary. If the full quota of

15 pupal individual rearings has not been reached or if more rearings are de-

sired in special cases, isolate additional pupae in individual plastic vials, mark

the vials with the lot number in grease pencil and set the vials aside to be pro-

cessed as indicated under pupal rearings in the section on INDIVIDUAL REAR-

INGS below. If the full quota of 10 (more in special cases) larval individual

rearings has not been reached, isolate in individual plastic vials full-grown

fourth instar larvae. Label the vials with the lot and sublot number in grease

pencil and set them aside to be processed as indicated under larval rearings in

the section on INDIVIDUAL REARINGS below.

After the isolations are completed pick off all the pupae in each lot and sub-

lot and place them in plastic vials with clean fresh water, up to 5-10 per vial

(depending on size). If a great number of larvae pupate at once the pupae may

be placed in a plastic cup cage (see GLOSSARY) for emergence, up to 200 per

cup cage. Mark the vials or cups with the lot and sublot number in grease pen-

cil, place them with the group of pupal material to be treated later as indicated

below under EMERGENCE VIALS.

Now fill plastic vials about three-quarters full with 80% ethanol, cover them

with lids, mark them with the lot and sublot number on the side and on the lid

and place a paper label with similar data inside each of the vials. One vial is

prepared for each lot or sublot mass rearing and placed next to each of them

until the mass rearings are completed. In each lot and sublot mass rearing

all the larval skins and dead larvae and pupae should be picked up with a pi-

pette and transferred to a plastic bowl of clean fresh water; this will serve to

wash debris from the specimens. From the bowl transfer all the skins and all

52 Gontaibwument dint Insts) wold, nos 2 1065

firm larvae and pupae to the proper vial with ethanol; discard all other materi- ~

al. After the mass rearings are completed the preserved material will be pro- ©

cessed as indicated in the next chapter (INCOMPLETE REARINGS). 4

In general, it is not necessary to add food to the mass rearings if ample

debris was present in the original collection. However if development is slow

a small amount of finely ground dog biscuit or laboratory chow may be added

from time to time. For anopheline larvae this should be sprinkled lightly on

the surface. For all other larvae except carnivorous forms a slurry should be

made first by adding a little water to the ground food and mixing it thoroughly.

A drop or two of the slurry should be placed with a pipette into the bottom of

the plastic cups.

Carnivorous larvae present a special problem in mass rearings. As soon

as discovered they should be isolated in individual vials or cups and each larva

provided with several small larvae of some readily available species (see sec-

tion on SPECIAL REARINGS below).

INDIVIDUAL REARINGS. Individual rearings are made from either pupae —

(pupal rearings) or larvae (larval rearings) which have been isolated in individ- —

ual plastic vials either in the field or in the laboratory and marked with the col- —

lection (lot) number and the sublot. Each vial must be provided now with an in- —

dividual rearing number which will identify the stages of each individual '

throughout the rearing and processing (see LABELING in the chapter on COL- ©

LECTION RECORDS). 4

Pupal Rearings. Assemble all the vials of pupae marked with a given col-

lection number (lot) and have the collection record form for that collection at

hand. Mark an entire strip of duplicate numbers in the -100 series with the

collection number in front of the dash. Cut off a duplicate set of numbers from

the top of the strip and insert this label on the outside of the vial between the

lip of the vial and the lid. Continue until all the pupal isolations are labeled. 4

On the collection forms place a check mark in front of all the numbers that have —

been assigned and attach with a paperclip the remainder of the label strip to the

collection form. This will be used to mark any additional pupal isolations that

may be made from the mass rearing of that collection. After labeling, all the

pupal rearing vials are placed together and processed further as indicated in

the section on EMERGENCE VIALS below.

Larval Rearings. Assemble all the vials of larvae (or larval skins and as-

sociated pupae) marked with the same lot number and arrange them in groups

according to sublots. Have the collection record form for that collection (lot)

at hand. Mark full strips of triplicate numbers in the -10, -20, -30 series as

needed for each of the sublots by writing in the collection number (lot) in front

of the dash. Working with one sublot at a time cut off a triplicate set of num-

bers from the top of a strip and insert this label on the outside of the vial be-

tween the lip of the vial and the lid. Continue until all the larval isolations are

labeled for a given sublot. On the collection form place a check mark in front

of all the numbers that have been assigned and attach with a paperclip the re-

mainder of the label strip to the collection form. Do the same for all the sub- ©

lots in the same lot and then go on to the other lots and repeat. The label strips ©

attached to the collection form will be used to mark any additional larval isola- ~

tions that may be made in the future from the sublot mass rearings. After la-

beling, all the larval rearing vials are placed together and processed further

as indicated in the section immediately below.

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 53

PUPATION VIALS. Vials containing isolated larvae, marked with individ-

ual rearing numbers (see Larval Rearings above), should be examined twice a

day for pupation preferably in late forenoon and late afternoon. Check through

all the vials and set aside all those containing larval skins before further pro-

cessing. Pour the contents of such a vial into a small clean sorting bowl with

fresh clean water. Transfer the pupa with a pipette into a clean plastic vial

containing 2 cm of clean fresh water; cut off two of the triplicate numbers from

the label and insert this label on the outside between the lip of the vial and the

lid. This marked vial is now placed with the emergence vials and processed as

indicated in the section below. Next, rinse out the original isolation vial with

clean water and fill it with about 5 ml of 80% ethanol. Transfer the larval skin

with a pipette into the vial with alcohol and attach the remaining number of the

triplicate set in the usual manner. This marked vial is now set aside to be pro-

cessed as indicated in the section on SKINS in the chapter on KILLING AND

PRESERVATION. This entire process is repeated for all the larval isolations.

All vials containing dead or moribund larvae should be set aside to be

promptly processed after completion of the care of the individual rearings as

indicated in the section on PARTIAL REARINGS in the next chapter. DO NOT

DISCARD THEM OR REMOVE THEIR LABELS.

If only a small number of collections is being processed in the laboratory

(see CARE OF COLLECTIONS AND SORTING above) the larval skins can be

put into individual shell vials filled with 80% ethanol, each with its identifying

label, at this time. For directions see again the section on SKINS in the fol-

lowing chapter.

No food should normally be added to pupation vials except for carnivorous

forms. For these as well as for Mansonia and other larvae requiring special

attention see the section on SPECIAL REARINGS below.

EMERGENCE VIALS AND CAGES. Vials containing isolated pupae, marked

with individual numbers, either from direct field collections or from mass lot

rearings and individual larval rearings should be examined twice a day, pre-

ferably in early morning and late afternoon. Check all the vials and set aside

all those with emerged or drowned adults for processing. To remove the viable

emerged adult loosen the lid and carefully slip in and replace it by the mouth

of an inverted plastic holding vial (see GLOSSARY). Tap on the side of the pu-

pal container to induce the mosquito to enter the holding vial and quickly stop-

per it with the original lid. Cut the duplicate identifying number into 2 strips,

attach one of these under the lid in the usual manner. This vial will now be

processed as indicated below under HOLDING VIALS AND CAGES. Next pour

some 80% ethanol (about equal in volume to the pupal water) into the vial con-

taining the pupal skin and drop in the other label. Put this vial aside to be pro-

cessed as indicated in the section on SKINS in the next chapter. The entire

process is repeated for all the pupal vials.

All vials containing dead or moribund pupae and drowned, partially emerged

or very weak adults stuck to the water film should be set aside and processed

prompty after completion of the care of individual rearings as indicated in the

section on PARTIAL REARINGS in the next chapter. NEVER DISCARD THIS

TYPE OF MATERIAL OR REMOVE LABELS FROM IT.

When plastic cups with screen tops are used for the mass emergence of

adults they should be checked twice a day as in the case of emergence vials.

For each collection all emerged adults are first picked up with an aspirator

inserted through the slit in the top and transferred to a similar cup without

54 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst:, vol. 1, nov 2; 1965

any water. This plastic cup cage is marked with the lot and sublot number as

required and placed with the individual holding vials to be treated as indicated

below. If only a few adults emerge at one time they can be transferred to small

emergence vials similar to those used for individual rearings, up to 5 per vial.

After the adults are removed all the pupal skins and dead pupae in the plastic

cup are transferred with a pipette to a plastic vial filled with 80% ethanol. Ex-

cess water in the pipette should be removed before dropping the mosquitoes in-

to the vial. Mark the vial with the lot and sublot number as required and keep

the vial by the plastic cup with the live pupae until emergence is completed.

The vial will then be processed as indicated in the paragraph on Mass Rearings

in the section on REARED ADULTS in the next chapter.

HOLDING VIALS AND CAGES. Reared adults should be kept for at least

24 hours, preferably for 48 hours, before being killed and processed as indica-

ted in the section on REARED ADULTS inthe next chapter. If they are kept

for 24 hours there will be 2 groups of cages at any one time, one group con-

sisting of those being isolated on a given day, another those isolated on the day

before. If adults are held for 48 hours there will be a third group. Mark each

geroup plainly with the date the adults were isolated.

The individual holding vials require relatively little siete: it is not nec-

essary to feed or to open the cages during the holding period. The vials must

always be tightly stoppered. Check at least once a day through all groups, pro-

cess dead specimens immediately or as soon as possible, following the direc-

tions in the section on REARED ADULTS in the next chapter. After the re-

quired 24- or 48-hour holding period process the specimens in that group fol-

lowing the same directions. |

The plastic cup cages should have a small wad of moistened absorbent cot-

ton resting on top of the netting which is covered loosely with an inverted lid.

Remove all dead adults as soon as noted with an aspirator inserted into the slit

in the netting; the cotton plug must be carefully replaced. Place these adults

into a clean dry plastic vial together with the required label and process this

as soon as possible following directions in the section on REARED ADULTS in

the next chapter.

Plastic vials containing several ndults should be handled the same way as

the plastic cup cages.

PROGENY REARINGS. Female mosquitoes isolated in oviposition vials

(see the chapter on the COLLECTION OF ADULTS and the section on CARE

OF COLLECTIONS AND SORTING above) require considerable attention in the

laboratory. First replace the solid lid with fine nylon netting held on the vial

by another plastic lid whose center has been cut out. Place a very small wad

of cotton moistened (not dripping) with 10% sugar solution on top of the netting

and cover loosely with the original solid plastic lid. The oviposition cages

should be checked daily and the sugar wad renewed if any mold develops or if

it dries out. It is suggested that a blood meal be offered daily to each female

by placing the screened top against the inner part of the forearm or finger. If

there is any danger of disease transmission or if the female does not take hu-

man blood various mammals or birds should be tried as a source of blood by

placing the screened top of the vial on a suitable area of a confined donor. It

is very important to provide a daily blood meal to certain species in order to

obtain oviposition, particularly in the genus Psorophora.

The place of oviposition in nature varies with the different genera (some-

times species within a genus) and it is therefore necessary to provide condi-

tions suitable for the particular species at hand. For Anopheles a few drops

Be a ae

Se en a eae OE

Fe ae ae ef ee ee RE

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods OO

of water should be added through the screen top to maintain a thin film over the

cotton in the bottom of the vial by applying the tip of a medicine dropper to the

netting and forcing the appropriate amount of water through it; avoid drenching

the mosquito. For Culex, Aedeomyia, Uranotaenia, Culiseta, Mansonia, Toxo-

rhynchites and other forms generally laying eggs on the water surface, singly

or in rafts, more water should be added so that it stands about 1 cm above the

level of the cotton. For many Mansonia an additional requirement is a small

disc of wet-strength paper placed on the surface of the water (see SPECIAL

REARINGS). For all other groups, including particularly Aedes, Haemagogus,

Psorophora and related genera, there should be little or no free water on the

cotton on the bottom of the vial so that the strip of paper towel on the inside of

the vial will show a gradient of humidity. Eggs will be laid by these forms pri-

marily on the strip of paper toweling. For other genera, variations of these

methods should be tried to simulate the conditions in the normal oviposition

sites. Paper toweling of varied texture, color and absorbency as well as strips

of wet-strength paper should be tried. It may be necessary to place the ovipo-

sition cage in the dark for some Species or to wrap dark paper completely or

partially around the vial.

Gravid females collected in the field will generally oviposit within 3 to 4

days if they will lay eggs at all. It is usually not necessary and may be even

detrimental to offer blood to gravid females. Females that are blooded in the

field and laboratory will generally take from 5 to 10 days or even longer before

ovipositing and these should be offered a blood meal daily as indicated in the

first paragraph of this section.

The daily routine of care for the oviposition vials should be as follows, pre-

ferably carried out early in the morning: (1) checking and maintaining the pro-

per level of water and moisture in the vial; if moisture condenses on inner

walls remove the solid plastic lid from the screen top; if molds develop on the

cotton or elsewhere change to a new vial, (2) moistening or replacing the sug-

ar wad, (3) offering a blood meal (this may have to be done at night or in the

dark for some species), (4) checking thoroughly for eggs and os processing the

parent female and her clutch of eggs.

If a female dies before laying eggs, examine her carefully sai if it appears

that she may contain fully developed eggs dissect the abdomen. If eggs with

fully formed plump egg shells are found treat the remains of the parent female

and the eggs as indicated in the next paragraphs. All dead nongravid females

should be saved in the original oviposition cages and processed as soon as pos-

sible as indicated in the next chapter under FIELD-COLLECTED ADULTS.

Some gravid females will refuse to lay eggs. In such instances forced ovi-

position should be tried. Cutting off the wings under light anesthesia and allow-

ing the female to recover on moist paper toweling in the oviposition cage may

induce oviposition. Decapitation of the female is a more drastic stimulus but

works well with some species. Simple CO9 anesthesia may also work and

should be tried using a cork ejector of the type described by Bruce-Chwatt

(1964).

Each cage containing a parent female and her eggs should be processed

promptly. Up to this time these cages have carried only the collection number

(lot). Now each female and her progeny is assigned a sublot number within the

original lot, from -1 to -9. Very seldom will there be more than 9 progeny

rearings from a single lot; if this happens, a new lot number is assigned for

the continuation of the original one, making available sublot numbers for 9 ad-

ditional progenies.

56 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

Before anything else, record on the front of the proper collection form in

the SUBLOTS section the assignment of a sublot number by placing a check

mark in front of the number assigned. Next prepare two paper labels showing

the lot and sublot numbers; to one of these add the letter P following the sublot

number, this label will identify the parent female, the other, replicated as

needed, her progeny through the mass rearings. Now, the parent female is re-

moved in the usual way to a clean plastic vial which is capped with a solid lid

under which the identifying label has been inserted. The vial is set aside to be

processed later as indicated in the next chapter in the section on REARED

ADULTS.

The eggs and mass rearings obtained from the ovipositing females are han-

dled in different ways depending on the genus: ;

(1) For Anopheles, a ring of wax paper is placed on the surface of the tap

water in a plastic cup (about three-quarters full), which is marked with the lot

and sublot number. The eggs are transferred as soon as possible to the rear-

ing container by removing the paper strip and cotton from the oviposition cage

and immersing them in the water through the center of the wax ring. Eggs re-

maining on the sides of the oviposition vial are picked up gently with a camel's

hair brush and dipped into the water in the center of the ring. Any eggs

stranded on the walls of the plastic cup or floating on the outside of the wax

ring are transferred with a camel's hair brush to the water surface inside the ~

ring. About 10 eggs from each clutch should be preserved following the instruc- —

tions in the section on EGGS in the following chapter. The mass rearing is |

now set aside. When the first larva hatches (in about 3-5 days) a very small

piece of yeast cake is placed on the inside rim on the wax ring so that it touches :

the water. When all the first instar larvae have hatched the wax ring is re-

moved. Finely ground dry food is sprinkled very sparingly twice a day on the

water surface. For further treatment see the general instructions for mass

rearing, preservation of larvae and isolation of individual rearings below. :

(2) For Culex and other forms whose eggs are laid in masses or individually —

on the water surface, transfer the eggs with a camel's hair brush into a plastic —

cup three-quarters filled with tap water. Label the cup with the lot and sublot

number in grease pencil. When the first larvae appear place a small amount

of food slurry in the bottom of the plastic cup once or twice a day as needed.

(3) For species of Mansonia transfer the egg mass or the disc of wet-

strength paper to which the eggs are attached, to a plastic cup three-quarters

full of tap water. Label the cup and feed the larvae as indicated above. Place

additional discs or strips of wet-strength paper on the water surface as needed

for the attachment of larvae. See the section on SPECIAL REARINGS below

for further processing.

(4) For Aedes, Psorophora, Haemagogus and other forms whose eggs are

laid primarily above the water surface the following procedure should be fol-

lowed: (a) Initial period of conditioning: the oviposition vials should be capped

with solid lids to provide a humid environment for the development of the eggs.

After 3 or 4 days examine 1 or 2 eggs under a microscope or with a hand lens.

If the eggs are still plump they are probably viable and ready for drying. (b)

Period of drying: replace the solid lid with a screen top and allow the eggs to

dry. The period of drying will vary with different species and has to be deter-

mined empirically. Examine 1 or 2 eggs periodically to determine whether

they remain plump (viable) or shrivel (dead); if they shrivel it probably means

that in this particular species the period of drying should be omitted. (c) Pe-

riod of flooding: if the eggs remain plump after drying for 3-5 days, fill the

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods o7

vial with tap water or preferably rainwater and empty all the eggs into a plastic

cup marked with the lot and sublot number. Fill the plastic cup about three-

quarters full of water and add 1 tablet of vitamin C, a drop of food slurry and

avery small piece of yeast cake. If the eggs are viable and properly condi-

tioned hatching should occur within 30 minutes. If they fail to hatch transfer

them to a dry strip of paper toweling placed in the original oviposition vial, cap

the vial with a screen top, allow the eggs to dry for several days and repeat

the flooding one or more times until hatching takes place.

For all progeny rearings a sample of 5-10 eggs should be preserved when-

ever possible before mass rearing is begun. See the section on EGGS in the

next chapter for methods of preservation. Whenever possible a sample of 5-10

specimens of each instar (including the pupa) should be preserved following the

directions in the section on WHOLE LARVAE AND PUPAE in the next chap-

ter. Wait until nearly all the individuals have reached a given instar before

selecting specimens of that instar for preservation to avoid a very uneven sex

ratio in the final rearing (males develop faster).

Set aside all the progeny rearings as a subgroup with the general mass

rearings and treat them as outlined above in the section on MASS REARINGS,

preserving all the cast skins and marking all the material with the appropriate

lot and sublot numbers and processing it as outlined in the next chapter. Be

sure to feed the larvae regularly but not excessively. When all the individuals

in a given progeny rearing are in the fourth instar, isolate 10 specimens in

plastic vials for individual rearings. Assign each specimen an individual rear-

ing number in the usual manner using the label strips with triplicate numbers.

For example, the individual rearings from the progeny mass rearing 52-1 will

be identified as 52-10, 52-11, 52-12 and so on to 52-19; those from progeny

mass rearing 52-2 will be identified as 52-20, 52-21 and so on to 52-29. At-

tach the labels under the vial lid in the usual manner. On the back of the col-

lection form place a check mark in front of all the numbers that have been as-

signed. The individual vials are now placed and processed together with all

the others as indicated in the section on INDIVIDUAL REARINGS above.

Progeny rearings are very time-consuming and require a great deal of at-

tention. Therefore with limited personnel only a few can be carried out at any

one time and some of the steps may have to be eliminated, e.g. individual iso-

lations and preservation of samples of all stages. However, progeny rearings

are extremely important for taxonomic studies and every effort should be

made to carry out the full procedure as outlined above for at least one female

of each species.

EGG REARINGS. Egg rafts or individual eggs collected in the field for

rearing should be processed, in different ways depending on the type of egg,

according to the methods suggested in the section on PROGENY REARINGS

above. Thereafter the rearings should be handled as indicated in the section

on MASS REARINGS except that food must be added regularly. If more than

one species is noted, sublots should be made. When all the fourth instar lar-

vae are nearly mature proceed as indicated in the section on CARE OF COL-

LECTIONS AND SORTING to separate larvae for preservation and for indi-

vidual rearings.

REARINGS FROM DRY MATERIAL. Samples of soil from depressions

or edges of temporary ground pools and debris from treeholes and other con-

tainer habitats (see section on COLLECTING EGGS AND DRY MATERIAL in

the chapter on COLLECTION OF IMMATURE STAGES) often contain mosqui-

to eggs that will hatch upon flooding. Place material from such a collection

58 Contrib. Amer. Ent.. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

in a plastic cup marked with the collection number, fill the cup about three-

quarters full with rainwater or tap water and add a tablet of vitamin C. Some

larvae should hatch within 30 minutes but others may not appear for about a

day. If no hatching at all takes place concentrate the material with a dip net bag

and dry the concentrate on paper toweling in a plastic cup. The process may

have to be repeated more than once to induce hatching in some species.

Once larvae hatch the rearing should be handled as indicated above in the

section on MASS REARINGS and separation of sublots and isolation of individ-

ual rearings as indicated in the section on CARE OF COLLECTIONS AND

SORTING.

SPECIAL REARINGS. Some species require pemal attention and/or meth-

ods in individual and/or mass rearings. Only two specific cases are mentioned

below but if difficulty is encountered with other types of larvae, variations in

rearing techniques should be tried to reproduce conditions analogous to those in

the natural habitat of the species in question.

Immature stages of the genus Mansonia may be reared using the simple

technique described by Laurence, Page and Smith (1962). Discs of wet-

strength paper, 1 cm in diameter, are placed on the water surface of the rear-

ing container, 1 disc to an individual rearing, several for mass rearings. If

this special type of paper is not available, use tough commercial grade paper

towels. The discs may have to be replaced if the larva becomes detached. Pu-

pation takes place on the underside of the disc with the pupa attaching itself

firmly to the paper. To transfer the pupa lift the disc with forceps and place it

on top of the water in the emergence vial.

Carnivorous larvae are usually readily recognized by a large head which is

strongly produced in front of the antennae or by very strongly developed and

projecting maxillae or mandibles. Most carnivorous forms are generally very

sluggish but show sudden jerky movements when alarmed or when attacking

their prey. As soon as noted, carnivorous larvae should be isolated in individ-

ual containers and provided with several small mosquito larvae of some com-

mon species. Development of these larvae will be rapid if the supply of prey

is maintained. At pupation be careful that the correct larval skin and pupa is

preserved for the larval vial may contain several cast larval skins and several

pupae of the prey species.

KILLING AND PRESERVATION

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. The following equipment and supplies are

needed for killing and preserving mosquitoes: (1) killing tubes, (2) aspirators,

(3) aerial net, (4) ordinary and entomological forceps, (5) large and small plas-

tic pillboxes, (6) paper toweling or cellucotton cut in squares to fit the pill-

boxes, (7) absorbent cotton, (8) gelatin capsules, (9) label strips, (10) 80% —

ethanol, (11) 5% and 10% formalin (2% and 4% formaldehyde respectively), (12)

shell vials with neoprene stoppers, (13) small pipettes and medicine droppers,

(14) sorting bowl, (15) dissecting needle, (16) beaker or pan for hot water.

FIELD-COLLECTED ADULTS. Adult mosquitoes collected in the field are

usually killed immediately upon capture and placed in plastic cups or vials with

paper toweling or tissue paper (see chapter on COLLECTION OF ADULTS) to

be processed in the laboratory. Specimens obtained in incidental collections

(see chapter) have to be processed in the same manner as outlined below, but

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods o9

usually in the field. It is not advisable to make final mounts of adult mosquitoes

on pins or points during a survey because of the time involved and because it is

difficult to take proper care of mounted specimens and to ship them. If, how-

ever, final mounts have to be made, it is suggested that adults be glued with

'"Ambroid’’ cement on the right side, legs facing the pin, on heavy paper ''points"

on #3 insect pins with nylon heads.

The most practical method of handling field-collected adults is to preserve

and store them in pillboxes for shipping and future mounting (for exceptions see

ADULTS IN ALCOHOL). Many different types of pillboxes have been used quite

satisfactorily but it is recommended that for the sake of uniformity plastic pill-

boxes be used. Cellucotton or household paper toweling cut to fit exactly into

the pillbox should be used in preference to absorbent cotton to hold and protect

the mosquitoes within the pillbox. With plastic pillboxes it is usually not nec-

essary to use a mold preventative but if, for some personal reason, one must

be used it is suggested that only 1 or 2 tiny crystals of thymol be anchored with

glue to the bottom of the pillbox. NEVER PLACE LOOSE CRYSTALS OR

FLAKES OF ANY KIND ina pillbox because of the danger of injury to the mos-

quitoes. If difficulty is encountered with specimens being drawn against the

sides of the plastic pillbox, see STATIC ELECTRICITY in the GLOSSARY.

Place a cut sheet of paper toweling in the bottom of the pillbox. Using ento-

mological forceps remove the mosquitoes from the plastic cup or vial to a sheet

of paper before transferring them to the pillbox. Carefully arrange on top of

the paper toweling in the pillbox a single layer of mosquitoes with legs stretched

out and wings folded over the abdomen, the specimens spaced so that they do not

touch each other. Never dump a mass of tangled specimens into a pillbox.

Place another cut sheet of paper toweling on top of the layer of specimens and

arrange another layer of mosquitoes. Repeat the process until all the mosqui-

toes from a collection have been arranged or until the last layer of mosquitoes

comes up to the level of the shoulder of the pillbox. Place another cut sheet

of paper toweling over the last layer of specimens and on top of that a wisp of

of fluffed out absorbent cotton extending to all sides and corners of the pillbox

and projecting very slightly over the top of the pillbox so that when the lid of

the pillbox is put on, the cotton will barely touch it. Place the label, face up,

upon the cotton in the center of the pillbox and close the box with the lid. Un-

der no circumstance should any significant pressure be used in placing the

specimens, the paper toweling or the cotton; this would result in flattening the

specimens. The paper layers and cotton should rest lightly to barely hold the

specimens and prevent them from moving. There is no need to seal the pillbox

with tape in the laboratory but it is essential to do so when the processing is

done in the field where the pillboxes are subjected to rough handling.

Use as many pillboxes as needed for a given collection and label each pill-

box carefully with the collection number. It is not advisable to put more than

one collection (lot) into one pillbox but if this has to be done because of many

small collections, place a label on a sheet of paper toweling over the speci-

mens from one collection and on top of the label, place another sheet of paper

toweling on which specimens of the next collection will be arranged.

Pillboxes must always be stored ina dry, pest-free place. See the next

chapter for further directions.

ADULTS IN ALCOHOL. With some soft-bodied mosquitoes, primarily

dixa-midges, preservation in 80% ethanol is preferable to storage in pillboxes.

After killing in the usual manner, specimens from field collections, mass

60 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

rearings, or individual rearings are simply dropped one by one, head first, in-

to a shell vial filled with the alcohol. Separate vials are used for each individ-

ual rearing, each sublot and each lot. Do not place more than 10 specimens in

one shell vial. A loose cotton plug is inserted into the vial and pushed down to

just above the level of the specimens. The label is placed above the plug and

the shell vial is capped with the neoprene stopper in the usual way. A record

of the material should be made on the collection form as indicated at the end of

the section on REARED ADULTS.

Poorly hardened, moribund or drowned specimens from mass rearings

should also be preserved in alcohol.

REARED ADULTS. All reared adults after being held for 24 to 48 hours in

plastic vials or cup cages (see HOLDING VIALS AND CAGES in preceding

chapter) should be killed and processed as indicated below. Parent females in

PROGENY REARINGS should be processed immediately after oviposition fol-

lowing the procedure for individual rearings below.

Individual rearings. Process all the adults from individual rearings (marked

with lot number and 2 or 3 digit individual number) that have been held for the

length of time (24 or 48 hour period) together at some convenient time in the af-

ternoon or evening. To speed the process have at hand 2-5 killing tubes to be

used serially. Loosen the lid of a holding vial and holding the vial upside down

slip its mouth over that of a killing tube. The adult will be knocked down by the

chloroform within seconds and will fall into the killing tube. To hasten the

knockdown tap on the vial. Remove the vial and hold a thumb over the mouth of

the killing tube until the specimen ceases struggling. Place the label inside the

killing tube, stopper the tube and set it aside. Proceed in the same manner with

1-4 other adults and place the killing tubes in sequence. After all the tubes are

used return to the first one for the second step in processing as indicated in the

next paragraph. After this step is finished kill another adult with the emptied

tube and place it in sequence after the others. Continue in this manner until all

the adults are processed. Time the processing to allow the adult to remain in

a tube at least 5 minutes but not longer than 10 by using the appropriate number

of killing tubes.

Transfer the adult and its label from the killing tube to a clean white card.

Pick up the adult with entomological forceps by the legs and let it fall head first

into the larger half of a gelatin capsule. If the mosquito fits snuggly, tap the

bottom of the capsule. Fluff out a very small piece of absorbent cotton and

smooth it out on one end. Introduce the smooth end into the gelatin capsule to

keep the mosquito from moving. The cotton must not touch the specimen and

should not project outside the capsule half. Next place the label on the outside

of the capsule half containing the specimen so that one end of the label extends

just beyond the upper margin of the capsule and slip the smaller half of the

gelatin capsule over it and the larger half as far as it will go.

A small plastic pillbox should be used to store the adult if it is too large to

fit into a gelatin capsule or if gelatin capsules cannot be used at all because of 3

excessive humidity. Place a square of paper toweling cut to fit exactly inside d

the pillbox on the bottom of the box and transfer the specimen to it. If difficulty

is encountered with specimens being drawn against the sides of the plastic pill-

box, follow the procedure under STATIC ELECTRICITY in the GLOSSARY.

Next place loosely another square of paper toweling over the mosquito. Fluff 3

out a small piece of absorbent cotton and use it to fill the plastic pillbox very

loosely; this should be a mere puff of cotton fibers. Never stuff the pillbox

SP ae a eed mre ee a eR

TR Se a a ee ae ee Sats

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 61

with a wad of cotton or exert any pressure. Next place the label on top of the

cotton and cover with the pillbox lid. The bottom square of paper toweling may

be left out so that the specimen is visible on the bottom of the pillbox but the

mosquito should always be protected from the cotton by the upper square of

paper.

After all the specimens have been processed a record of them must be made

on the back of the collection forms. Place a check mark in pencil in the appro-

priate column in the line for the corresponding number for either a male (M) or

female (F). If the sex is not readily determined place the check mark on the

line between the two columns. If an adult escapes during processing make ev-

ery effort to recover it. If there is any doubt at all that the specimen recap-

tured is the one that has escaped indicate this under REMARKS. If it is lost

place 0 on the line between M and F.

Shell vials of the same type as used for storage of alcohol preserved mate-

rial or other small shell vials of moderate diameter (up to 12 mm) may be used

instead of gelatin capsules or small pillboxes. Let the mosquito fall into the

bottom of the vial head first, insert a fluffed out piece of absorbent cotton to

just above the legs of the mosquito, place the label on top of the cotton and cap

the vial with the neoprene stopper.

Gelatin capsules are water soluble and great care must be taken not to get

them wet. They must be stored in a dry and pest-free place. See the next

chapter for further directions for the storage and shipment of gelatin capsules,

pillboxes and shell vials.

Mass Rearings. Process at one time all the adults from mass rearings

(marked with lot number or a lot number and a sublot number of 1 digit) that

have been held for the same length of time (24 or 48 hour period). If the speci-

mens are in vials use killing tubes as indicated for individual rearings above.

Be careful with vials containing more than one adult. It may be necessary with

these to release the specimens in a net first and then recover them with an as-

pirator or a killing tube. For specimens in plastic cup cages remove the adults

one or a few at a time with an aspirator inserted through the slit in the screen

top and blow them out gently into killing tubes.

Process all the adults from one lot or one sublot together, making sure that

labels are placed in all the killing tubes. Make additional labels as needed.

After the specimens have been in killing tubes for 5-10 minutes place them in

large pillboxes using the procedure outlined above under FIELD-COLLECTED

ADULTS. If there is only one specimen in a given lot or sublot it may be

placed in a small pillbox using the technique described under Individual Rear-

ings above.

After all the specimens have been processed a record of them must be made

in the section on SUBLOTS on the front of the collection forms. Place a check

mark in the appropriate column in the line corresponding to the sublot number

for either or both male (M) or female (F). If the sex cannot be readily deter-

mined place the check mark on the line between the two columns (as also indi-

cated under Individual Rearings). For collections not subdivided into sublots

use the line for sublot -1. Store and pack the material as suggested in the

next chapter.

WHOLE LARVAE AND PUPAE. It is essential to preserve an adequate

sample of whole larvae of every species from every field collection and from

all progeny rearings (see directions for material to be preserved in the pre-

ceding chapter on CARE OF COLLECTIONS AND SORTING, PROGENY |

REARINGS, EGG REARINGS and REARINGS FROM DRY MATERIAL). It is

62 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

also desirable to preserve some whole pupae if the material is available and

time permits. To be uSeful for taxonomic purposes, whole larvae and pupae

must be killed and preserved carefully so that the body shape and all structures,

particularly hairs, are retained. Although it is possible to obtain fairly satis-

factory material by killing larvae and pupae directly in the alcohol in which

they will be preserved, this method is not dependable and should be used only

where facilities or time for the technique outlined below are not available.

The larvae and pupae Set aside for killing and preservation in a plastic cup

marked with the lot and sublot number are first transferred with a pipette to a

sorting bowl with fresh clean water as a washing procedure. With a small num-

ber of larvae the following procedure may be followed. If much debris or sedi-

ment is still present, additional serial transfers should be made until it is elim-

inated. Next a beaker or pan of water is heated to about 60C (140 F) and the

larvae are dropped into it one at a time with a minimum of the water from the

sorting bowl. As soon as the larvae float up to the surface they are transferred

with a pipette individually with a minimum of water to a container of 80% ethanol.

After 5 minutes they are again transferred with a pipette in the same manner to

a plastic vial, or a plastic pillbox with 80% ethanol. The size of this container

will depend on the number of larvae; it should be big enough to accommodate all

the larvae in a single layer on the bottom. Prepare a paper label in pencil,

place it inside the container and cap the container tightly. The larvae should be

allowed to harden for at least overnight before transfer to shell vials.

If there are more than 20 immatures to be killed from one collection, chee

should be washed, as above, and then they may be poured onto a small screen

and this screen dipped into the container of hot water until the larvae are killed.

The screen, with the larvae still in it, is then inverted and washed off in the

first container of 80% ethanol from which they are transferred with a pipette

into a plastic pillbox with 80% ethanol for hardening.

After the hardening period (overnight or longer) the ethanol in the container

is pipetted off and replaced with fresh 80% ethanol.. Next the larvae are trans-

ferred with a pipette to a shell vial filled with 80% ethanol. No more than 20

medium-sized larvae (such as C. quinquefasciatus) should be placed in one

Shell vial. If the larvae do not sink down immediately, tap the sides of the

Shell vial with a pencil. Next insert a plug of cotton into the shell vial forcing

it down to a level just above the larvae. The plug should have a smooth bottom

and should fit easily into the vial; never use a tight wad of cotton for a plug. On

top of the plug place the label and bring the level of the alcohol to near the top

of the vial. Put on the neoprene stopper and release the pressure by inserting

a needle between it and the inner wall of the shell vial.

After the material is processed a record should be made on the front of the

collection forms in the section on SUBLOTS. Place a check mark in the L

(whole larvae) and/or P (whole pupae) column on the line corresponding to the

sublot number; if only a lot number is found on the label use the line for sublot

-1. Store and pack the material as suggested in the next chapter.

SKINS. The most valuable material for taxonomic purposes are the asso-

ciated larval and pupal skins from individual rearings and the corresponding

adults. The greatest care must be taken in processing these. When many mass

or progeny rearings are carried on at one time no attempt should be made to

preserve the corresponding larval and pupal skins in one vial. However with

only a few rearings, the skins may be associated in one vial as indicated in the

section on PUPATION VIALS in the preceding chapter.

Po GOT Rig eR SO IRL OS

Belkin et at: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 63

The larval skins and the pupal skins in individual plastic vials containing di-

lute alcohol that have been set aside for preservation (section on PUPATION

VIALS and EMERGENCE VIALS AND CAGES in the preceding chapter) must

be processed the same day, preferably immediately after completion of the

work on individual rearings. Empty the contents of a vial into a plastic pillbox

with 80% ethanol resting on a white surface; put the label into the pillbox also.

With a pipette transfer the skin into a shell vial filled with 80% ethanol. If the

skin does not sink, place a finger on the mouth of the shell vial and invert the

shell vial several times until the skin is wet and sinks. Next insert a light plug

of cotton as indicated in the section on WHOLE LARVAE AND PUPAE above.

Make certain that the skin(s) does not become entangled in the cotton or trapped

between it and the walls of the shell vial. Place the label, insert the stopper

and release the pressure as indicated in the section on WHOLE LARVAE AND

PUPAE. Skins may also be transferred with a smooth-surfaced lifter but this

takes great care and is not recommended for general use by inexperienced as-

sistants.

After all the skins are processed a record should be made by a check mark

on the back of the collection forms in the 1 (larval skins) or p (pupal skins) col-

umn on the line corresponding to the individual rearing number. Store and

pack the vials as suggested in the next chapter.

INCOMPLETE REARINGS. All specimens that die during rearing in the

laboratory whether in lot mass rearings, sublot mass rearings, or individual

rearings should be preserved as carefully as all the other material. Also all

skins from mass rearings (lot and sublot) should be preserved.

After the completion of lot and sublot mass rearings, process the plastic

vials containing the skins and dead larvae and pupae in alcohol. Empty a vial

into a. sorting bowl (or smaller container) with fresh 80% ethanol. Transfer

the skins (larval and pupal) into one shell vial filled with 80% ethanol and the

whole larvae and pupae into another, following the procedure suggested above

in the sections on WHOLE LARVAE AND PUPAE andon SKINS. Be sure to

label everything and not to place more than a total of 20 specimens in any one

vial. Record the material on the collection forms as indicated in the section

on WHOLE LARVAE AND PUPAE.

_All the material from incomplete individual rearings should be preserved

in separate individual shell vials with 80% ethanol. A dead larva may be

transferred directly into a shell vial but a moribund one should be killed in hot

water following the procedure outlined on the section on WHOLE LARVAE AND

PUPAE and then transferred to a shell vial after one passage through 80% etha-

nol without the hardening procedure.

EGGS. Samples of eggs should always be preserved from PROGENY

-REARINGS, EGG REARINGS and whenever possible from REARINGS FROM

DRY MATERIAL (see preceding chapter). A sample of 5-10 eggs is usually

sufficient but more should be preserved if the clutch is larger or if many eggs

are collected in the field. The eggs of mosquitoes are still poorly known pri-

marily because of failure to collect and preserve them for study.. They show

many valuable taxonomic characters and an effort should be made to collect

and preserve them routinely.

Ten percent formalin (4% formaldehyde) should be used for killing and pre-

serving eggs of the majority of species but 5% formalin may be advisable for

the more delicate eggs of such forms as anophelines. Small shell vials with

neoprene stoppers should be used for containers.

64 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

Egg rafts and hard-shelled aedine eggs are dropped directly into a shell vial

filled with formalin. Use a moistened camel's hair brush to transfer the eggs

from the water, paper toweling, cotton or other surface on which they are laid.

In case of species of Mansonia which attach their eggs to various objects, all or

part of this material around the eggs should be preserved. After the eggs have

settled in the bottom of the shell vial insert a cotton plug (as with whole larvae

and pupae) to just above the level of the eggs and place a label above the plug.

Cap the vial and release the internal pressure in the vial with a needle inserted

between the stopper and the inner wall of the vial.

Very delicate eggs with floats or processes (as in anophelines) should be

killed and preserved by formalin fumes. First place the label facing to the out-

side against the side wall in the bottom of the shell vial and pack tightly some

absorbent cotton in back of the label to a height of about 1 cm (about half an

inch). Saturate the cotton with 5% formalin so that a very thin film remains on

the surface. Next prepare a strip of filter paper or paper toweling narrow

enough to slip into the shell vial and about 5 cm (2 inches) in length. Moisten

this strip with 5% formalin and transfer very carefully with a moistened camel's

hair brush one egg at a time to the middle part of the strip. Next fold over one

end of the strip (without eggs) two or three times, the length of the folded part

being less than the diameter of the shell vial, and slip the strip with the folded

end first into the shell vial. Press the folded end against the cotton in the bot-

tom and push the strip against the inner wall of the vial where moisture will

hold it in place. Next cap the vial with the neoprene stopper in the usual way.

DO NOT FILL THE VIAL with the formalin; the eggs will be killed and pre-

served by the fumes in the vial and bas favmalin on the strip picked up by capil-

larity from the cotton.

After the eggs have been thus eae a record should be made on the

front of the collection forms in the section on SUBLOTS. Place a check mark

in the E (eggs) column on the line corresponding to the sublot number; if only a

lot number has been given use the line for sublot -1. Store and pack the mate-

rial as suggested in the next chapter.

STORING, PACKING AND SHIPPING

STORING. All preserved adults and all supplies used for the preservation

of adults must be stored in a dry pest-proof box or cabinet to protect them

from molds, ants and particularly psocids. A simple wood cabinet with venti-

lation holes on top, an electric light bulb of low wattage (7.5 or 15 watts) asa

drying source in the bottom and legs set in cans of oil serves very well. The

temperature in the cabinet should be maintained as low as possible and should

not exceed 40C (104 F). If psocids are noted, ''Dri-Die"’ or naphthalene flakes

should be applied liberally in the cabinet. A small open cardboard container

with thymol crystals should also be placed in the cabinet. Do not use insecti-

cides suchas DDT, BHC. Ifa drying cabinet is not available, plastic bags

with silica gel should be used to store the material.

Gelatin capsules containing adults should be replaced in the original 100-

capacity cardboard boxes. A few wisps of fluffed out cotton should be placed

to keep the capsules from moving after the box is filled; do not use any undue

pressure or the capsules will be crushed. The empty capsules should also be

stored in the drying cabinet. The plastic pillboxes containing adults should

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 65

also be stored and packed in cardboard containers of a convenient size. Any

Space remaining in the container should be filled loosely with fluffed out cotton

or crumpled paper to prevent movement of the pillboxes. The empty pillboxes

should be kept closed and stored in the drying cabinet. The roll of household

paper toweling and the squares of cut paper toweling to fit into the pillboxes

should also be stored in the cabinet as well as the nylon netting.

The shell vials containing specimens, as well as other vials with ethanol,

should be kept in a cool place, never in the drying cabinet. The shell vials

should be packed neatly in cardboard containers of a convenient size or wrapped

together in paper toweling in bundles of 20 to 50. Plastic vials containing al-

cohol should have the tops sealed with tape to prevent evaporation and be packed

in small cardboard boxes.

PACKING AND SHIPPING. Material should be shipped as soon as possible

for final processing and mounting. Do not let large quantities accumulate but

send it in small parcels. Be sure to include the collection forms with the pre-

served Specimens and indicate the letter code.

It is very important to pack the material very carefully or it may be com-

pletely ruined. Use the special shipping container consisting of a sturdy cor-

rugated cardboard box lined with styrofoam sheets. All the material to be

shipped must first be carefully packed in small cardboard boxes as indicated in

the section above. Check every box for loose containers and fill in the unused

space with cotton or crumpled paper so that nothing will move when the box is

shaken but do not pack tightly. Next seal the individual boxes with tape. Place

all the boxes in the shipping container and fill all the spaces between them

tightly with crumpled paper so that nothing moves and the container is com-

pletely filled. Enough packing material should be placed on top of the boxes so

that when the styrofoam lid is put on a slight pressure will be needed to keep it

down level with the styrofoam sides. Now close the shipping container and seal

the top with tape. The container should then be covered with wrapping paper.

If pinned specimens in Schmitt or other boxes are shipped, a corrugated

board container lined with 2 inches of polyurethane foam should be used.

Make certain that all the pins are in tightly in the box. Empty all the fumiga-

tion crystals or flakes from the box. If large ''points’’ have been used in mount-

ing specimens a pin on each side of every point should be used to prevent the

point from Swinging in transit.

If special shipping containers are not available use a sturdy corrugated board

container with about 2 inches of tightly packed crumpled paper, excelsior or

other packing material on all sides of the material which must first be packed

inside a sealed smaller box. Never use a flimsy container and always fill with

enough packing material so that the container will not be crushed.

All packages should be shipped by air, preferably by AIR PARCEL POST.

If several are shipped at once it may be cheaper to use AIR FREIGHT but this

may require special clearance by Customs and other government agencies and

may actually cost more. All packages should be plainly marked ''Preserved

material for scientific study, no commercial value."

OUTLINE OF PROCEDURES

The following is an outline of the procedures set forth in the preceding

pages of this paper for the handling of the mosquito material from the time of

66 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst:,,vol.. 1,.m0-. 2,-1969

its collection to the step of killing and preservation but does not include the de-

tails of killing and preservation. The purpose is to give an overall perspective

of the procedures rather than to serve as the actual guide itself. Items in

[square brackets] are optional but should be followed whenever possible.

Adults Collected

Killed upon capture:

Killing tube (field)

Place in plastic cup or vial with tissue paper (field)

Preserve in pillbox (most mosquitoes) (lab)

Preserve in alcohol (soft-bodied mosquitoes, gravid females not to be held

for oviposition) (lab)

Females to be retained for progeny rearings:

Place in oviposition vial (field)

Transfer to oviposition cage (lab)

Gravid females; sugar solution

Non gravid females; sugar solution, daily blood meal

Progeny rearings

5-10 eggs preserved, formalin solution or fumes

Transfer remaining eggs to proper type hatching vial

Follow by cycles of drying and flooding, if necessary

Mass rearings in cup; daily feedings ground biscuit, chow or slurry

Preserve skins and 5-10 whole specimens of each instar

Preserve adults in pillbox

[Isolate 10 4th-instars for individual rearings

Preserve associated skins of each individual rearing

Preserve adults in gelatin capsules or pillboxes |

Pupae Collected

Not sorted to species:

Isolate up to 15 into vials for individual rearings (preferably in field)

50 additional for mass rearing

Preserve skins, dead pupae and inviable adults in alcohol

Preserve adults in pillboxes

Preserve remaining pupae

[Sorted to species:

Isolate one half up to 10 of each species into vials for individual rearings

Preserve adults in gelatin capsules or pillboxes

Mass rear one half and preserve one half of remainder (in alcohol)

Preserve adults in pillboxes|

Larvae Collected

Sort to species, each in a separate cup (in field if possible; complete in labora-

tory)

Assign sublots, treat each as follows:

Isolate 4th-instars into separate vials as individual rearings one half of to-

tal up to 10 (in field if possible, remainder in lab)

Rear to adult

Preserve all skins and inviable immatures and adults in alcohol

Preserve adults in gelatin capsules or pillboxes

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 67

Preserve 20 additional 4th-instars in alcohol

Mass rear remaining 4th-instars in cup(s)

Follow special procedure for carnivorous forms

[Preserve up to 10 whole pupae in alcohol]

Rear remainder to-adult; preserve all skins

Preserve adults in pillboxes

Young larvae that cannot be sorted

Mass rear noncarnivorous forms in original container to 4th-instar; then

treat as above

Rear suspected carnivorous forms in separate container(s)

Eggs Collected

Collected and transferred to field egg vial (field)

Transfer to proper type of hatching vial (lab).

Collected in and together with dry material (field)

Transfer to cup, flood, add vitamin C tablet (lab)

Follow with several cycles of drying and flooding (lab)

Rear larvae through adult stage following procedure under "Larvae Collected"

GLOSSARY

Some of the common equipment and supplies used in mosquito surveys and

rearings are listed below in alphabetical order together with explanations of

some special terms or problems mentioned in this publication. The list is not

meant to be exhaustive. Much useful information on equipment, methods of

collecting and rearing and mosquito habitats will be found in other publications

such as Belkin (1962: 67-82), Carpenter and LaCasse (1955: 3-5), Forattini

(1962: 185-302, 593-642), Horsfall (1955), Howard, Dyar and Knab (1913: 106-

185), King et al (1960: 11-17, 23-28), Matheson (1944: 80-86), Russell et al

(1963: 283-361) and Trembley (1955) as well as in the specific references men-

tioned in the preceding text. It should be emphasized that existing methods

should be adapted to local conditions and that new techniques should be tried.

The mention of certain products, manufacturers and distributors in the glos-

sary is not to be construed as endorsements of specific items; similar, equally

satisfactory items may be available elsewhere.

AERIAL NET. Any kind of aerial net may be used but the bag should al-

ways be made of fine-meshed nylon marquisette (see NYLON NETTING). Very

convenient is a Small collapsible net with a short hollow aluminum handle into

which a cane or stick may be inserted when needed.

ALTIMETER. Very convenient for field use is the compensating pocket al-

timeter manufactured by Lufft Instruments, distributed by Watrous & Co.,

Inc., 110 East 23rd St., N.Y., N.Y. 10010. The model with the meter scale

is preferred.

AMBROID. This commercial liquid cement, manufactured by Ambroid Co.,

Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, is an excellent adhesive for attaching adult mos-

quitoes to paper points. The acetone solvent should be evaporated and replaced

by amyl acetate before use.

AQUATIC NET. Various kinds of aquatic nets with circular, triangular or

square frames may be used but the bag should always be of fine nylon marqui-

sette (see NYLON NETTING).

68 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

ASPIRATOR (SUCTION TUBE). Convenient and practical aspirators can be

made from 12.5 mm O.D. extruded acrylic plastic about 30 cm in length, pro-

vided with a hollow plug of 9 mm O.D. rubber or plastic tubing covered with a

small piece of fine nylon netting (see) and a 60 cm length of 12.5 mm O.D. or-

dinary rubber tubing. If it is desired to taper the end of the aspirator the plas-

tic tubing is heated over an electric hot plate (not an open flame), pulled out to

the proper diameter and cut with a fine hacksaw blade.

BATTERY PIPETTE. Commercial battery hydrometers make excellent pi-

pettes for collecting in axils, flower bracts and small treeholes. Discard the

hydrometer element and cut off the external flange and the inner knobs on the

rubber stopper. The hard rubber tubing should be substituted by a length of

plastic tubing (extruded acrylic tubing 9 mm O.D.) that has been tapered as in-

dicated under ASPIRATOR. The plastic tubing should be inserted through the

rubber stopper so that its inner end is flush with the inner end of the rubber

stopper inside the pipette.

CAGES (PLASTIC CUP CAGE, OVIPOSITION VIAL, PLASTIC VIAL CAGE).

Any kind of container, plastic, glass or paper may be converted to a cage by at-

taching a screen top. We recommend the use of plastic vials for small cages

and plastic cups for large cages.

CELLUCOTTON. Any kind of absorbent cotton processed into light weight

sheets with smooth outer surfaces (not hard) may be used for protecting and

preserving mosquitoes in pillboxes. If entomological cellucotton is not avail-

able surgical wadding or dental sponges serve the purpose very well. Small

sheets of cellucotton should be cut very accurately to fit exactly inside the pill-

box so that specimens cannot move into the adjoining layers. All cellucotton

must be stored in a dry place free from molds, preferably in a plastic bag with

Silica gel.

COLLECTING BAG, EQUIPPED. A sturdy canvas field bag (surplus US

Army or Marine Corps musette bag is very convenient) fully equipped with the

following should always be carried on collecting trips: supply of collection

forms, field book, maps, altimeter, thermometer, hand lens, pencils, grease

pencils, label strips, paper towels and tissue, small scissors, forceps, cam-

el's hair brushes, scalpel, pocket knife, machete, trowel, flashlight (torch),

and a pair of light weight rubber or plastic boots.

COLLECTING CONTAINERS. A variety of containers, plastic, glass and

cardboard have been used successfully for storage, transport and rearing of

immature stages. Elaborate containers with vented stoppers (Russell et al

1963: 290) are not necessary. We recommend the use of PLASTIC CUPS (see)

which are light weight, inexpensive and can be stacked when empty. See also

PLASTIC SORTING CONTAINERS.

COLLECTION NUMBER (LOT). Number assigned to every collection and

identifying all specimens from that collection; subdivided into sublots for dif-

ferent species (or individual females for progeny rearings) and individual iden-

tifying numbers for individual rearings.

COTTON (COTTON WOOL). The best grade of sterile absorbent cotton

should be used. If tightly rolled, the cotton should always be fluffed out before

use in shell vials, gelatin capsules or pillboxes. Cotton balls packed in plas-

tic bags are convenient but still are too tight to use directly.

DIP NET AND BAG. A standard dip net frame, an aquarium net frame or

a simple homemade wire frame of a diameter of about 15 cm (6 inches) may be

used. The bag should be made of fine nylon netting (see) or bolting silk (No. 0)

attached to a double muslin band. The depth of the bag should not exceed 10 cm

and should be rounded not pointed.

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 69

DIPPER. Any standard mosquito dipper with a hollow handle to accommo-

date a stick or cane may be used. A white interior in the cup is helpful but not

essential (nor is a long handle). A very practical dipper is an aluminum or

stainless steel ladle of 8 oz (240 ml) capacity. Small pans of various kinds,

bowls, cups and even spoons are also useful as dippers in some situations.

EMERGENCE VIAL. Plastic vial of 5 dram capacity containing pupa(e) for

the emergence of the adult(s) of small to medium-sized species. For large

species a 9 dram vial should be used. Keep stoppered with a solid polyethylene

cap at all times.

ENTOMOLOGICAL FORCEPS. Featherweight spatulate-tip entomological

forceps (similar to Ward's C310 or Turtox 110A435) should be used to transfer

adult mosquitoes for storage and preservation. The adults should be grasped

by the legs with the forceps.

GELATIN CAPSULE. Gelatin capsules make excellent containers for tem-

porary storage of adult mosquitoes from individual rearings. Care must be

taken, however, that the filled as well as the empty capsules never become wet

and that they are stored in a dry and fairly cool place free from fungi and pests.

Empty capsules are easily obtained in boxes of 100 from pharmaceutical dis-

tributors or drugstores throughout the world. Parke, Davis & Co. capsules

no. 1 will accommodate most mosquitoes but it may be desirable to have at

hand other sizes, from 000 (largest) to 5 (smallest). Under very humid condi-

tions gelatin capsules may not be practical and should be substituted by small

pillboxes.

GREASE PENCIL (CHINA AND GLASS, WAX). Glass and plastic marking

pencil, the markings easily wiped off with cotton.

HOLDING VIAL. To make a holding vial for adults being hardened for a

24- or 48-hour period saturate a piece of absorbent cotton in fresh clean water

and pack it very tightly in the bottom of a 5 dram plastic vial to a height of

about 12 mm (1/2 in). For large species a 9 dram vial should be used. Keep

stoppered with a solid polyethylene cap at all times. If any difficulty develops

owing to moisture condensation in the vials substitute a fine-meshed nylon net-

ting top for the solid cap.

INDIVIDUAL REARING. Individual reared in isolation so that the adult is

associated with its pupal (pupal rearing) or its larval and pupal skins (larval

rearing).

JERRY CAN. See PLASTIC WATER CAN.

KILLING TUBE, JAR. Chloroform is the preferred killing agent for adult

mosquitoes but ethyl acetate may be used; cyanide is not recommended for

general use. Killing tubes should be prepared with glass test tubes 25 mm x

200 mm (never plastic). A plug of sponge rubber or rubber bands cut into

pieces are placed in the bottom of a test tube to a height of 20-25 mm (one inch

or less). The rubber is saturated with chloroform and covered with a piece of

crumpled ordinary paper (not absorbent) to a height of about 12-15 mm (about

1/2 inch) and topped with a circle of heavy white blotting paper. The tube is

recharged before every trip by pouring in chloroform until the rubber swells.

All excess chloroform and moisture must be wipped off thoroughly inside the

tube. Two or 3 long strips of fine tissue paper should always be kept inside

the tube to provide a grasping surface for dying mosquitoes. The strips should

be replaced as soon as any evidence of moisture appears. The tube must be

kept tightly stoppered with an ordinary cork. To reduce breakage of tubes wind

adhesive tape around the outside of the bottom andrim. For ethyl acetate

70 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

tubes a layer of plaster of Paris is used in place of the rubber and crumpled

and blotting paper. A killing jar is prepared by placing a ball of cotton satura-

ted with chloroform or ethyl acetate in a sturdy wide-mouth glass jar, the top

of the net containing the mosquitoes is introduced into the jar (not touching the

cotton) and a solid screw top placed over it for a few minutes. It is not neces-

sary to make a permanent killing jar for mosquitoes.

LACTOPHENOL. A mixture of 1 part phenol (absolute carbolic acid), 1 part

absolute lactic acid, 2 parts glycerine and 1 part water has been widely used

for killing and preserving whole larvae and pupae and preserving skins (Hop-

kins and Mattingly 1952: 30-31). Because of the difficulty of dehydrating mate-

rial preserved in this viscous fluid satisfactory permanent mounts in euparal

or balsam are seldom possible. Therefore the routine use of lactophenol is

not recommended.

LARVAL FOOD. Individual and mass rearings of older instars collected

in the field do not require food in addition to that brought in with the original

water and concentrate. However, for mass progeny rearings and mass rear-

ings of younger instars collected in the field it is essential to adda small

amount of food regularly, preferably a very small amount twice a day. Finely

ground laboratory chow, dog biscuit or similar dry animal food may be used.

For surface feeders this is sprinkled on the water surface; for bottom feeders

a slurry of food and water is first made and then placed in the container. Small

amounts of yeast cake may also be used as specified in the text. We have found

either dry or live pollen from various flowers and grasses effective food for

hard-to-rear breeders in temporary pools and plant containers.

LARVAL REARING. See INDIVIDUAL REARING.

LIFTER. Various dental tools (probes, spatulas, etc.) may be used for

transferring skins and whole larvae and pupae. The instruments should be

perfectly smooth or damage to the specimens will occur. The use of lifters is

not recommended for inexperienced personnel in the field; a medicine dropper

or small pipette is safer.

LOT. Number assigned to a whole collection; see COLLECTION NUMBER.

MASS REARING. A general rearing without isolation of individuals. Three

types are recognized, (1) lot mass rearing, rearing of a whole collection with-

out separation into species, (2) sublot mass rearing, rearing of an individual

species identified by a sublot number and (3) progeny mass rearing, rearing of

the offspring of an individual female also identified by a sublot number.

MICROVIAL (PERFUME VIAL). Small glass vials, 7.5 mm x 50 mm O.D.,

1 ml capacity (1/4 dram), provided with polyethylene stopper, commercially

used as perfume sample vials, make excellent containers for the storage of

small specimens. Because of the small capacity and narrow neck diameter

some difficulty may be encountered with the larger larval and pupal skins.

Therefore they are not recommended for routine use in the preservation of

skins; use instead the larger SHELL VIALS (see). The microvials of the type

described can be obtained from the Acme Vial and Glass Co., 4909 San Fer-

nando Road West, Los Angeles, California 90039 (Acme long style patent lip

vial, 1/4 dram, with AG 187 polyethylene stopper).

MOSQUITO PUMP. Homemade pumps are extremely useful for the collec-

tion of immature stages from crabholes, large treeholes and other confined

habitats containing a considerable quantity of water. We have found the fol-

lowing two types, small and large, to be quite satisfactory. A rubber bulb, of

the one-way, pressure or suction type (double acting), about 90 ml (3 0z) ca-

pacity, is satisfactory for either type of pump. Small type: The pump chamber

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods qd

or reservoir is a rectangular milk bottle of 2 liter (2 quart) capacity. The rub-

ber bulb is attached by a short length of plastic tubing to a 9 mm (3/8 in) copper

tube fitting inserted with a sleeve of rubber tubing into a suitable hole bored in-

to the milk bottle. A 1-2 meter (3-6 ft) length of rubber tube of either 12 or

25 mm (1/4 or 1/2 in) diameter is fitted onto a piece of aluminum tubing pro-

jecting through a rubber stopper which fits the mouth of the milk bottle. Large

type: The reservoir is a plastic water can (Jerry can) of 9.5 liter (2.5 gals)

capacity with a separate vent hole. The rubber bulb is attached to the vent hole

of the water can through an identical copper tube fitting as above but without the

rubber sleeve. The length of rubber tubing is fitted in the Same manner as

above to the pouring mouth of the water can. Either pump is operated by re-

peated rapid squeezing of the rubber bulb. Care must be taken not to overfill

the reservoir or to get sand and debris into the rubber bulb. Smaller mosquito

pumps, using mouth suction instead of a rubber bulb, may be useful for collec-

ting in leaf axils.

NETS. See AERIAL, AQUATIC and DIP NET.

NYLON NETTING. Nylon marquisette is the preferred material for all net-

ting (aerial and aquatic) and all screen tops. For nets a fine mesh (17 to mm,

42 to in) should be used; for screens on oviposition vials, plastic cup cages and

so on, a coarser mesh (10 to mm, 25 to in) should be used to allow mosquitoes

to feed through the screen.

OVIPOSITION VIAL, CAGE. To make an oviposition vial, saturate a piece

of absorbent cotton in fresh clean water and pack it very tightly in the bottom

of a 9 dram plastic vial to a height of about 12 mm (1/2 in). Cut a strip of pa-

per toweling or filter paper about 2 cm (3/4 in) wide and 6.2 cm (2 1/2 in) long

and fold 1.2 cm (1/2 in) at one end of strip. Insert the strip into the vial with

the folded end resting on the wet cotton and the main part against the wall. Wet

the strip with a drop of clean fresh water so that it clings against the wall. Re-

move all moisture from the inner walls of the vial with paper toweling and cap

the vial with a solid polyethylene lid. Later, in the laboratory, the oviposition

vial will be converted into a PLASTIC VIAL CAGE (see) by the addition of a

netting top; the solid cap will be placed loosely over the netting top and the wad

- of cotton saturated with sugar solution.

PAPER TOWELING. For the storage and preservation of mosquitoes in

pillboxes only soft light household paper towels in rolls (Scottowels or similar

product) should be used. Cut the squares carefully to fit exactly into the pill-

boxes to prevent specimens from moving from the original layer. The paper

toweling should be kept in a dry, fungus- and pest-free place. Coarse, tougher

commercial grade paper hand towels should be used for oviposition strips and

may be satisfactory for attachment discs for the immature stages of Mansonia.

PILLBOXES. Many different types of cardboard, plastic and metal pill-

boxes have been used for the storage and preservation of adult mosquitoes.

Very satisfactory, uniform, inexpensive and readily available are small, clear,

polystyrene boxes used for commercial packaging of small items. We have

found 2 square boxes manufactured by Bradley Industries, Inc., 1650-58 N.

Damen Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60647, to be very useful, Box no. 1 (3/4x3/4x

5/8 in) for individually reared adults and Box no. 3 (1 11/16x1 11/16x9/16 in)

for mass-reared adults. See POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC for precautions to be

observed with various solvents.

PIPETTE, MEDICINE DROPPER. A variety of pipettes have been used for:

the collection and transfer of immature stages. For the field we recommend

72 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

pipettes with a rubber bulb of 30 ml (1 oz) capacity and a 15 cm (6 in) length of

9 mm (3/8 in) extruded acrylic plastic tube. The end of the tube is tapered as

indicated under Aspirator (see). Smaller pipettes can be made from 6 mm

(1/4 in) glass tubing and a 10 ml rubber bulb. Very useful are polyethylene

dropping pipettes whose tip can be cut to the right taper with scissors. Ordi-

nary medicine droppers with the tip of the glass tube cut and fire polished to

widen the diameter of the opening are recommended for the transfer of skins

and whole larvae and pupae. See also BATTERY PIPETTE.

PLASTIC BAG. Plastic food bags (12 x 24 in) make convenient containers

to store samples of soil and debris containing eggs.

PLASTIC CUP. The most practical containers for collection and mass

rearings of immature stages have proved to be opaque white polystyrene cups

with polyethylene caps used commercially for food packaging and as household

refrigerator containers. They are inexpensive (cheaper than wax-lined paper

containers), versatile, take up little space (stacking) and stand up well in the

field. The 15 oz (450 ml), medium impact cup (HP 1215 MB) with polyethylene

lid (HP 200), manufactured by Highland Printers & Plastic Molders, 1434 West

Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, California 91105, has proved to be very satisfac-

tory after several years of field and laboratory use. See POLYSTYRENE

PLASTIC for precautions to be observed with various solvents. An ordinary

pint cylindrical ice cream container fits into the flanged inner top of this plas-

tic cup and can be used as an emergence cage by removing its bottom and.

screening its lid.

PLASTIC CUP CAGE. To make a plastic cup cage cut out the central part

of the solid polyethylene cap and use the remaining rim to anchor a piece of

nylon netting (see) over the cup. Make 2 slits at right angles to each other in

the center of the netting wide enough to allow passage of an aspirator; stopper

the opening with a solid plug of cotton. See POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC for pre-

cautions to be observed with various solvents.

PLASTIC PILLBOX. See PILLBOXES.

PLASTIC SORTING CONTAINERS. Various plastic containers (basins,

bowls, buckets, pans) made of polyethylene or polypropylene are very useful

for sorting and processing collections in the field or laboratory.

PLASTIC VIA]. Small, clear polystyrene vials with polyethylene caps are

recommended as containers for individual rearings and with modification of the

lid, as oviposition vials. The 5 dram (18.5 ml) and 9 dram (33.3 ml) vials,

manufactured by Thornton Plastic Co., 745 Pacific Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah

84104, are very satisfactory. See POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC for precautions

to be observed with various solvents.

PLASTIC VIAL CAGE. To make a plastic vial cage cut out the central

part of the solid polyethylene cap and use the remaining rim to anchor a piece

of NYLON NETTING (see) over the vial. See POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC for

precautions to be observed with various solvents.

PLASTIC WATER CAN (JERRY CAN). A 20 liter (5 gallon) plastic con-

tainer (polypropylene), designed for water storage, should always be carried

on field trips filled with clean fresh water for washing container breeding sites

and for sorting. It can be refilled in the field from springs or streams by fil-

tering water through a dip net bag placed over the spout.

POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC. Paradichlorobenzene, chloroform, ethyl ace-

tate and numerous organic solvents readily dissolve polystyrene and should

never come in direct contact with plastic cups, plastic vials or plastic pill-

boxes.

Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 73

POLYURETHANE. Soft spongy plastic upholstering material sold in sheets,

recommended as packing insulation material for shipment of boxes of mounted

adult mosquitoes. |

PROCAINE CARTRIDGE. See SHELL VIAL.

PROGENY REARING (SERIES). Rearing from egg clutch laid by an individ-

ual female as a sublot mass rearing.

PUPAL REARING. See INDIVIDUAL REARING.

PUPATION VIAL. Plastic vial of 5 dram capacity containing an isolated

larva being held for pupation. For large species use a 9 dram vial. Keep

stoppered with a solid polyethylene cap at all times.

RACKS. Racks for holding plastic vials can be made simply by boring par-

tial holes of appropriate diameter in slabs of styrofoam plastic (see).

REARING CONTAINERS. A variety of containers, plastic, glass and card-

board have been used successfully for rearing immature stages. We recom-

mend the use of PLASTIC CUPS sah for mass rearings and PLASTIC VIALS

(see) for individual rearings.

SCREEN TOP. Screen tops for sainit cup or vial cages should be made

from nylon netting (see). If mosquitoes are to be blooded through the screen

use the coarser netting, otherwise the finer mesh. Cut out the center of the

solid polyethylene cap and use the rim to attach the netting to the container.

SHELL VIAL, GLASS (PROCAINE TUBE OR CARTRIDGE). The most

convenient containers for alcohol or formalin preserved specimens are small

shell vials with neoprene stoppers. They are much more Satisfactory than the

procaine tubes or cartridges formerly widely used for this purpose. The filled

shell vials should always be stored dry as there is practically no evaporation

of alcohol through the neoprene stoppers. The shell vial itself can be made to

order from ordinary no. 2 wall glass tubing of 8.75 mm diameter (8.55-8.95

mm) cut to a length of 64 mm by any commercial glass blowing firm. Stoppers

can be obtained from the West Company, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460, in

a variety of sizes and compounds. For the vial diameter given above the fol-

lowing should be used: glass cartridge fitment, diaphragm no. 5, neoprene.

The filled vial will contain, from bottom to top, the specimen(s), a loose cot-

ton plug, the label and the stopper. It is very important, in capping the vial,

to insert a dissecting needle between the neoprene stopper and the wall of the

vial to release the gases under pressure; if this is not done the stopper may

pop off later. A small air bubble should be present in the upper portion of the

vial beneath the neoprene stopper but air bubbles should be excluded from the

bottom portion of the vial beneath the cotton plug; air bubbles beneath the cot-

ton plug may result in mechanical damage to the specimens when the vials are

shaken, especially during shipping.

SIPHON. A length of rubber tubing may be used to siphon water from tree-

holes or other container habitats located above ground. Use mouth suction to

start the siphon and collect water in a suitable container held below the level

of the breeding site.

SORTING CONTAINERS. A variety of containers are used for sorting im-

mature stages in the field (enamel pans, metal buckets and so on) but we re-

commend light weight PLASTIC SORTING CONTAINERS (see).

SQUEEZE BOTTLE (WASH). A plastic (polyethylene) bottle with attached

tapered plastic tubing for dispensing liquids by squeezing the bottle is very

handy for filling shell vials with alcohol. Never use the stream of alcohol di-

rectly on specimens.

STATIC ELECTRICITY. Difficulty is sometimes encountered with plastic

74 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

pillboxes or other containers becoming charged with static electricity with the

annoying result that the specimens placed in the container are drawn to and

cling to the walls. The static electricity can sometimes be discharged by

touching the inside of the container with a metal object such as a pair of small

scissors.

STERNO STOVE. A small simple collapsible field stove using cans of so-

lidified alcohol as fuel; available in drugstores in most cities throughout the

world; recommended for heating water for killing immature stages in the field.

STYROFOAM. Rigid, light weight expanded polystyrene plastic insulation

material in sheets is recommended as packing insulation in shipping containers.

Styrofoam can be used to make racks for plastic vials.

SUBLOT. Subdivision of a collection (lot) for individual species represented

in that collection or for individual females in progeny rearings. See COLLEC-

TION NUMBER.

SUCTION TUBE. See ASPIRATOR.

SURGICAL WADDING. See COTTON.

TISSUE PAPER. Soft absorbent tissue paper (facial, handkerchief, bath-

room) should be used for strips in killing tubes or for protection of mass col-

lections of adults in plastic cups or vials.

WATER CAN. See PLASTIC WATER CAN.

WET STRENGTH PAPER. Discs for oviposition and for the attachment of

the immature stages of Mansonia should be cut from brown, wet strength crepe

paper obtainable from paper houses in the larger cities. This tough paper is

used for packaging and is treated with small amounts of a synthetic resin to re-

duce water absorption. If this paper is not available coarse commercial grade

paper hand towels may be used.

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Bruce-Chwatt, Leonard J.

1964. A simple device for anesthetizing mosquitoes with carbon dioxide.

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Holdridge, Leslie R.

1947. Determination of world plant formations from simple climatic data.

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Hopkins, George H. E. and P. F. Mattingly

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1953. Better results with mosquito light traps through standardizing me-

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Belkin et al: Collection, Rearing and Preservation Methods 717

MOSQUITOES OF MIDDLE AMERICA

Code: Date:

INN DOI so ee be Collector:

Eig lity ss a at ani Warn a POI a LOIN a cee

DA Stri Cts 2 nee ass Seen Country! sce aes oe Photos

GENERAL ENVIRONMENT -1. Woody plants:height 0-2-8-15-30m; density0-1-2-3 2. Herbs, grasses:height 0-.5-1-2-5- 8m;

density 0-1-2-3 3.Epiphytes: 0-1-2-3 4. Edge or interior of vegetation, along road, dike, bank 5. Shore of sea, lake, stream

mangrove, saltmarsh 6. Virgin vegetation, clearing, grazing, plantation, cultivation, domestic 7. Light:deep shade, partial shade, full sun

Annual rainfall: ca - ~~ >_ scm Rainy season: J- F-M-A-M-J-J-A-S-O-N-D Vegetation type:

IMMATURE STAGES SUBLOTS

Breeding site -1. Pond, lake 2. Ground pool: large, small 3.Animaltracks 4.Swamp interior, | Species | L] 1] P]p|M[FIE|

margin, marshy depression 5. Flooded forest 6.Seepage, spring 7.Well 8.Stream: margin, pool,

blocked 9. Ditch, drain 10. Fountain, gutter 11.Crabhole:large, small. 12. Rockhole:volcanic, coral ery ee

stream margin, seaside 13.Artificial container: large, small:__________14. Treehole:large, ee ee a

Small 5 Fallen‘trees 20 16 (Bamboo: cut or broken, uncut internode i

17; Animal ‘container on oround: a 18. allen leat. frond, spatheis sa +++ 4-

19. Fallen fruit, nut, rind:________. 20.. Attached fruit: ________ 21. Leaf axil: epiphytic, fea

teyirestrials i eee ck lower back ype ies oo eee nce Ce FR a

23.6 Pitchers. ee 4 Trap: bamboo: pot; = eae ae Height of site above ground m ee es Ge A

Water - 1. Permanent, semipermanent, temporary 2. Clear, turbid, colored: __ S| ee Eee ee

3. Stagnant, slow, moderate, strong current 4. Fresh, brackish, salty 5. Foul,slimy, fermenting eee Paes ess

Vegetation in Breeding Site - 1. Abundant, scanty, none 2. Flotage, scum, algae 3. Grassy, eee

herbaceous, woody, 1iOdtine - og eee ee es a Beane S

Bottom - 1. Mud, sand, gravel, rock 2. Organic matter: plant animal

ADULTS

1. Site: (specify exact situation)

3\. Height above. ground. sm

2. Type: biting-landing, swarming, resting, sweeping, 4. Host or bait:_.. SESS

at light: ____tmtm_m________, trap: ____________—_ 5, Time of capture:

No v present O lost INDIVIDUAL REASINGS + dead, preserved in alcohol .

b Species

[i] p[M[F [Sub | Species [1 |p|M|F] Sub | Species [1 | p|M/F |

EB Ss VE ene Os EE Re Vee

Pe ee i ES ee ee ee eT

a. Meee eee ee ae

FE Ls es Re Fe

108 ee ee a

pe ee ee

| -107| 107

i=)

Ue Rae aan ee ee

—_

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ee ees

e1oO

1 i 1

ars ee oe

we | Go | DO

“eed BE)

Pass RPL pare Bes

oo se

aT, o;o we | OO

ie)

Fig. 1. Collection Form

78 Contrib. Amer. Ent. Inst., vol. 1, no. 2, 1965

MOSBNTORY OF KISS: AEB

RAN Na GO ES

SOLE RE RE SE

RSE

yy ag sp Sea a

REUSE ARS:

ARINGS |

Sass

‘PUPAL 3

INDIVIDUAL

REARINGS

2. Collection and Rearing Labels

Contributions

of the

American Entomological Institute

Volume 1, Number 2a, 1967

Vb tts, see

ESTUDIOS SOBRE MOSQUITOS (Diptera, Culicidae)

Ia. Un proyecto para un estudio sistematico de los

mosquitos de Meso-América.

Métodos para coleccionar, criar y preservar

mosquitos.

Ila.

Por

John N. Belkin y otros

CONTRIBUTIONS

of the

AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

The Contributions are for larger papers on insects. Each paper is a separate number, with

separate pagination and index. Separate numbers aggregating about 500 pages constitute a volume.

Issues appear irregularly, as suitable manuscripts are available.

Copies are sold separately or in subscriptions to complete volumes. Complete volumes are

$12.00. The price of separate numbers varies. Subscribers are billed for each volume with its

beginning number, and receive the parts as issued. Orders for separate numbers that total less

than $8.00 must be accompanied by payment. Address orders for correspondence to the American

Entomological Institute, 5950 Warren Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, U.S.A.

Parts of Volume 1, with prices

No. 1. Dasch, Clement E., 1964. The Neotropic Diplazontinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae).

75 pages, 69 figures. Price: $2.25, postpaid

No. 2. Mosquito Studies (Diptera, Culicidae), 1965.

I. Belkin, John N., etal. A project for a systematic study of the mosquitoes of

Middle America.

Il. Belkin, John N., etal. Methods for the collection, rearing and preservation of

mosquitoes.

78 pages, 4 figures. Price: $2.25, postpaid

No. 2a. Same as no. 2, but inSpanish. Price: $2.25, postpaid

No. 3. Matthews, Robert W., 1965. The biology of Heriades carinata Cresson. (Hymenoptera,

Megachilidae). 33 pages, 23 figures. Price: $1.00, postpaid

No. 4. Mosquito studies (Diptera, Culicidae), 1965.

Ill. Ramalingam, Shivaji, and John N. Belkin. Two new Aedes from Tonga and Samoa.

IV. Belkin, John N. The mosquitoes of the Robinson-Peabody Museum of Salem

expedition to the southwest Pacific, 1956.

34 pages, 3 figures. Price: $1.00, postpaid

No. 5. Mosquito studies (Diptera, Culicidae), 1965.

V. Belkin, John N., Robert X. Schick, and Sandra J. Heinemann.

Mosquitoes originally described from Middle America.

95 pages. Price: $2.75, postpaid

No. 6. Mosquito studies (Diptera, Culicidae), 1966.

VI. Belkin, John N., Robert X. Schick, and Sandra J. Heinemann.

Mosquitoes originally described from North America.

39 pages. Price $1.00, postpaid

No. 7. DeLong, Dwight M. and Paul H. Freytag, 1967. Studies of the world Gyponinae

(Homopotera, Cicadellidae). A synopsis of the genus Ponana.

86 pages, 257 figures. Price: $2.50, postpaid

No. 8. Contributions to the mosquito fauna of southeast Asia.

I, Delfinado, Mercedes D. The genus Aedes, subgenus Neomacleaya Theobald in

Thailand.

55 pages, 20 figures. Price: $1.75, postpaid

Contributions

of the

American Entomological Institute

Volume 1, Number 2a, 1967

ESTUDIOS SOBRE MOSQUITOS (Diptera, Culicidae)

Ia. Un proyecto para un estudio sistematico de los

mosquitos de Meso-América.

Ila. Métodos para coleccionar, criar y preservar

mosquitos.

Por

John N. Belkin y otros

; is

oon

ao siytavse anny

ESTUDIOS SOBRE MOSQUITOS (Diptera, Culicidae)

Ia. UN PROYECTO PARA UN ESTUDIO SISTEMATICO DE LOS

MOSQUITOS DE MESO-AMERICA!

Por

John N. Pada” Robert X. Schick“, Pedro Galindo®

y Thomas H. G. Aitken4

Traduccion por

Pablo Barreto», Felipe J. Martin? y Abdiel J. Adames?

1 ; ios _

Esta investigacion es sostenida en parte por la Donacion para Investiga-

cidn AI-04379 del U. S. Public Health Service, National Institute of Allergy

and Infectious Diseases y en parte por U. S. Army Medical Research and De-

velopment Command, Department of the Army, bajo el Contrato de Investiga-

cion DA-49-193-MD-2478.

: Department of Zoology, University of California, Los Angeles, Califor-

nia 90024, U.S.A.

. Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, Apartado 6991, Panama, Republica de Pa-

nama.

s Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory, P.O. Box 164, Port of Spain, Tri-

nidad.

i Centro Internacional de Investigacion y Entrenamiento Médicos (ICMRT),

Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Valle, Apartado Aéreo 2188, Cali,

Colombia. :

2 Contrib. Amer. Ent.‘Inst: , vol. 1, no: 2, 1965