54 COLLEMBOLA OF MINNESOTA 



1873. Smynthurus fuscus. Lubbock, Mongr. Coll. and Thys. PI. II, pp. 



101-107. 



1890. Smyntburus fuscus. Uzel, Thys. Bohem. p. 34. 



1893. Smintburus fuscus. Schott, Insekten-Fauna v. Kamerun, p. 6. 



1893. Smintburus fuscus. Schott, Palasarct. Collemb. p. 21. 



1895. Sminthurns fuscus. Renter, Finl. Coll. och Thys. p. 9. 



1896. Sminthurus fuscus. Schaffer, Coll. v. Hamberg, p. 209, PI. IV, 124. 



1897. Sminthnrus fuscus. Poppe & Schaffer, Coll. v. Bremen, p. 271. 



Schott describes the species as "Yellowish-brown or red- 

 dish-violet, shining. Antennae little longer than the head. Su- 

 perior claw vaginate. Dentes set with very long hairs. No 

 clavate hairs on the tibia. Mucrones with both edges dentate. 

 Length, 2 mm." 



This description applies to the principal form, of which I 

 have taken but two individuals in the state. These were taken at 

 Lake Vermillion. They are very dark, appearing black when 

 seen dorsally. The antennae are pale violet. Legs deep blue, 

 and furcula dark blue even on the mucrones. Besides this prin- 

 cipal form, we have another form which differs much in color, 

 but seems the same in structure and is probably merely a variety 

 of this species. Our variety is unique in having three lon- 

 gitudinal dark stripes on head and thorax. The middle one is 

 narrow, and extends down the front of the head to a point 

 midway between the bases of the antennae. The two side stripes 

 run forward over the top of the head, taking the eyespots in 

 their course, and reaching down almost to the mouth in front, 

 their ends approaching but not uniting. From the head they 

 pass backward along the sides of the thorax. These stripes are 

 of the same color as the back of the abdomen ; being usually 

 of a dark sepia brown in the older specimens, and lighter in 

 younger ones. The young have the three stripes continued 

 back to the posterior part of the abdomen. Between the stripes, 

 and the lower part of the body are citron yellow in older spec- 

 imens, and rather brighter in young. The rings on Ant. IV 

 are about 16 in number, and are more distinct in the very young 

 than in adults. Compare figures 8 and 9. The antennae are 

 deep violet and bear a few very long sense hairs on the second 

 and third segments. The superior claw is enclosed in a tunic 

 which seems to be pierced by the tip of the claw, and by the one 

 strong inner denticle. A distinct, much-curved hair, from the 



