126 PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 23, NO. 6, JUNE, 1921 



orbitals. Ventral surface of the third segment shining, having the appearance 

 of being varnished. 



Described from four (4) females and two (2) males. Speci- 

 mens labeled Rio Piedras, P. R. May 23, 1913, P. R. S. G. A. 

 Ac. No. 473, 1913 J. R. Johnson, Collector. 



Holotype, Female, Cat. No. 24,146 United States National 

 Museum. Allotype, Male, Cat. No. 24,146. 



This species runs to S. inquinata in Coquillett's Revision. 

 It is undoubtedly related to Sturmia distincta Wied. a common 

 parasite of the sphinx moths in North America. The latter 

 species has the social habit in pupation as is evidenced by 

 specimens reared by Mr. George W. Barber of the Bureau of 

 Entomology at Charleston, Mo., October 24, 1914, from the 

 larva of a sphingid (species undetermined). The puparia in 

 this case are cemented together precisely as in sociabilis and 

 form a disc nearly circular in outline. In the case of S. sociabilis 



Fig. 1 Puparia of Sturmia sociabilis. 



it was suggested to Mr. Jones that possibly the larvae were 

 confined in so small a space that they were compelled to crowd 

 each other in order to secure space in which to pupate but he 

 stated that this was not the case. 



Phorocera meracanthae, new species. 



Male and female. Back species covered with whitish pollen; in certain lights 

 the apical edges of the abdominal segments are black and also have a broad 

 black stripe on the third and fourth segment. Eyes hairy. Length, male 

 9 mm.; female 8 to 10 mm. 



Male. Front prominent, silvery, about one-fourth the head width and with 

 numerous bristly hairs in addition to the frontal bristles; lowest frontals reach 

 slightly below apex of second antennal joint; below these are four or five bristly 

 hairs. Frontal stripe deep reddish brown. Ocellar triangle black with numer- 

 ous long, bristly hairs; ocellar pair large, directed obliquely forward. Antennae 

 long, reaching nearly the length of the face; third joint narrowly reddish at base 

 and about five times the length of the second. Arista long, thickened on the 

 basal fourth. Face strongly receding; ridges bristly almost to the lowest 

 frontals. Vibrissae large, decussate. Palpi dull yellow, well developed. 

 Thorax covered with white pollen forming four narrow, indistinct black vittae on 

 anterior portion; four posterior dorso centrals. Scutellum concolorous; a discal 

 pair of macrochaetae, also three pairs of large marginals and a small, decussate, 

 apical pair. Abdominal segments with macrochaetae as follows: first and 

 second segments with a median and lateral pair; third with four marginal pairs; 



