236 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, 



races and physiological species, just as between similar morpho- 

 logical units. Just when there is a sufficiently distinct break in 

 the continuity of a series to divide it into separate species is in 

 neither case always easy to decide. 



-o- 



A NEW SPECIES OF DEBIS. 



By HENRY SKINNER, M.D. 



Debis creola n. sp. <^\ Expands 2^5 inches. Upperside : Primaries 

 dark fawn color, with five black dots extending across the wing parallel 

 to the outer margin; the second and fifth spots are small. Secondaries 

 have five black spots surrounded by a lighter shade. Underside: Prima- 

 ries as in Debis portlandia, but darker in color and with five distinct 

 ocellate spots. Secondaries similar to portlandia. The female presents 

 the usual sexual difference seen in the genus; it differs from portlandia 

 in having more of the lighter shade on the wings around the spots and 

 the spots on the secondaries are more nearly equal in size than in the 

 allied species. This species may be distinguished from portlandia as 

 follows: It is a larger and darker species; the apices of the wings are more 

 produced ; the spots on the primaries are not surrounded by a lighter 

 shade; they are more distinct, and the first, third and fourth equal in size 

 and the other two are small; transverse lines are wanting; in the cells 

 (excepting the discoidal) accompanying the veins are broad, furry, fuscous 

 patches, connected inwardly, open outwardly, leaving sagittate spaces of 

 the lighter color of wing in the middle of each cell; the spots on secon- 

 daries are more nearly equal in size; undersides of wings darker and 

 more of a purple color; there are five distinct ocelli on primaries beneath. 



This is probably what Dr. Strecker described as aberration a 

 in his catalogue (1878). Dr. A. G. Butler has recognized this 

 species and says there are specimens in the British Museum from 

 the Godman and Salvin collection, and that the great develop- 

 ment of the male sexual patch seemed to him of specific impor- 

 tance. My specimens were kindly sent to me by Mr. G. R. 

 Pilate, who captured them at Opelousas, La., on July 3d, present 

 year. Dr. Strecker' s specimen came from Texas. 



OCTOBER isth was an unusually warm and quiet Autumn day and called 

 forth many insects from their retreats. At sunset I stationed myself near 

 a barn to capture the insects flying at twilight. To my surprise the com- 

 monest species proved to be one of the Forficulidae, Labia minor. In a 

 short time thirty-five specimens were taken, when darkness cut short the 

 sport. As these insects are considered rare in this part of the country I 

 thought this worth putting on record as it gives a clue to their habits. 

 FREDERICK KNAB, Chicopee, Mass. 



