PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 21, NO. 2, FEB., 1 919 37 



he called betae. This species was described as attacking the 

 common garden beet, small colonies being found clustered be- 

 neath the spurs of the roots. 



Since the original description no further information has been 

 published, so far as the writer knows, in regard to the insect and 

 it is impossible to gain a knowledge of it from the description and 

 the very inadequate figures given. 



In looking over the Fitch collection of aphididae the writer noted 

 a small card point containing two apterous specimens of Smyn- 

 thurodes betae labeled England, J. O. W. Fitch received a number 

 of specimens of English aphids from Westwood and these were 

 pinned with yellow labels, all of which carry the initials J. O. W. 

 There is little doubt, therefore, that these two specimens are from 

 the lot collected by Westwood and that they were sent Fitch 

 by the author of the species. 



The specimens were in very poor shape when located, being 

 entirely covered -with a fungus growth. This was cleared from 

 them and the specimens mounted in balsam and placed in the 

 slide collection of the U. S. National Museum. While it is im- 

 possible to give an accurate description of the body characters 

 owing to the condition of the abdomen, the following descriptive 

 notes and figures will serve to give some idea of the species: 



Apterous Viviparous Female. Length of body 1.68 mm.; width of ab- 

 domen 0.96 mm. Antennae as follows: Segment I, 0.08 mm. long, 0.064 

 mm. wide; II, 1.128 mm. long, diameter 0.032 mm.; Ill, 0.048 mm. 

 long; IV, 0.064 mm. long with the distal sensorium small but prominent; 

 V, base 0.112 mm. long, unguis 0.032 mm. and distinctly set off from the 

 base. Segments armed with rather stout scattered hairs. Foreleg with the 

 following measurements: Femur 0.32 mm., tibia 0.288 mm., tarsus exclusive 

 of claw 0.112 mm. Middle leg as follows: femur 0.32 mm., tibia 0.336 mm., 

 tarsus 0.128 mm. Hind leg as follows: femur 0.416 mm., tibia 0.496 mm., 

 tarsus 0.144 mm. Legs armed with rather short stout hairs. Vertex 

 0.24 mm. wide and perfectly straight in the specimens. This, however, 

 may be due to their condition. A series of stout hairs is present on 

 the vertex. Eyes minute, facets not visible in the specimens. Beak reach- 

 ing to the second pair of coxae or slightly beyond. Abdomen armed with 

 short, stiff hairs. No cornicles are visible. Wax glands not apparent but 

 this may be due to the condition of the specimens. Cauda and anal plate 

 rounded. 



Since Smynikwrodes betae West, was found living on cultivated 

 beets, the question at once arises as to whether or not it is the 

 destructive beet aphid of America now generally referred to as 

 Pemphigus betae Doan.. Examples of betae Doan show that the 

 antennae are more slender (fig. IB) than those of betae West. 

 (fig. 1A) and that the spine-like hairs are not so prominent. 



