SABETHINIJS IDENTICUS 35 



of the water when at rest. He observed them to be predaceous in Trinidad. 

 He says : 



" Larvffi in bamboo stumps in bamboo woods; one of them (S. undosus) ob- 

 served attacking and eating another {Wyeomyia sp.) ; larva is predaceous, feeds 

 probably exclusively on the Wyeomrjia larva; observed feeding several times." 



He met with the species again in Panama, but did not repeat his observations 

 on their predaceous habits. He says : " A common species bred in large num- 

 bers from bamboo at Tabernilla, Lion Hill, and Gatun." Now, in the case of 

 predaceous species it generally happens that they occur singly or in small num- 

 bers, as they have to be relatively much less numerous than their prey in order 

 to subsist. It would seem that a species which can be generally bred in " large 

 numbers " can not be exclusively predaceous. Further observations should be 

 made upon these habits. 



The adults are diurnal, the females coming to bite in the woods in the day. 



Trinidad, British Guiana, Panama, Nicaragua, and probably southward into 

 Brazil. 



Bluefields, Nicaragua (W. F. Thornton) ; Tabernilla, Canal Zone, Panama, 

 larvae in bamboo. May 9, 1907 (A. Busck) ; Lion Hill, Canal Zone, Panama, 

 adults ca.ptured (A. Busck) ; Georgetown, British Guiana, adult captured, 

 August 1, 1905 (E. D. Eowland) ; San Juan, Trinidad, larvge in bamboo- 

 stumps, June 7, 1905, associated with a species of Wyeomyia (A. Busck) ; 

 Trinidad (F. W. Urich). 



We have included specimens from Trinidad and Panama under this species, 

 although the larvae differ to some extent in the shape of the mouth-parts. We 

 have not found any differences in the adults, though minute ones may possibly 

 occur. Two races, or possibly species, are indicated, but we have not thought it 

 advisable to attempt to separate them at present. The species of Sahethinus run 

 very closely and should have particular study with good material from Brazil 

 for comparison. 



SABETHINUS IDENTICUS (Dyar & Knab). 



Sabethes identicus Dyar & Knab, Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc. xv, 207, 1907. : 



Saiethes identicus Busck, Smiths. Misc. Colls., quart, iss., lii, 71, 1908. 

 Sahethoides (?) identicus Theobald, Mon. Cullc, v, 585, 1910. 

 Sahethes (?) identicus Theobald, Mon. Culic, v, 622, 1910. 



Origin AL Desckiption of Sabethes identicus: 



5. Identical with Sabethes undosus Coq.; we are unable to demonstrate any dif- 

 ferences whatever between the adults. 



Four specimens, Tabernilla, Canal Zone, Panama (August Busck, collector), bred 

 from larvae in bamboo joints. 



Type: No. 10851, U. S. National Museum. 



The larvse are allied to those of Sabethes undostts, but differ in many particulars, 

 so that a distinct species is indicated, in spite of the apparent identity of the adults. 

 The air-tube is short, without any basal enlargement and but two pairs of single 

 hairs; the body-hairs are finer, less coarsely stellate; the dorsal hooks of the seventh 

 segment with a tooth instead of simple; maxillae less stout, with seven small teeth 

 instead of four large coarse ones. 



Desceiption of Female, Male, and Larva of Sabethinus identicus : 



Female. Proboscis rather stout, swollen at tip, vestiture black with violet 

 luster ; labellffi small, rounded, with fine outstanding setae. Palpi short, one-fifth 

 as long as proboscis, slender, black, a tuft of outstanding hairs at base. Antennae 

 moderate, the joints subequal, rugose, pilose, black ; tori subspherical, with a cup- 

 shaped apical excavation, dark brown, whitish pruinose; hairs of whorls long, 

 moderately dense, black, Clypeus slender, elliptical, convex, dark brown with a 

 white pruinosity, nude. Eyes large, contiguous at vertex, black, produced later- 



