OF WASHINGTON. VOLUME XV, 1913 165 



nymph ready for the final molt and fully pigment ed winged adult 

 is only one day and one-half to two days for individuals, 

 (Leucotermes spp.) the quiescent stage lasting several hours. 



In conclusion, therefore, it may be stated that in case of Leuco- 

 termes spp. and Termopsis angusticollis Walk., the differentiation 

 of the soldier caste occurs during a molt and quiescent stage rather 

 late in the life cycle of the insect, the larvae being previously, to 

 all external appearances, undifferentiated. 1 



-In discussion Mr. Banks said that discoveries of Mr. Snyder 

 regarding the metamorphosis of Termites upset the old methods 

 of classification. The change from the metamorphic to the non- 

 metamorphic forms is so gradual that a classification cannot be 

 based on these characters. 



Professor Qualntance asked if a breaking down of the tissues 

 takes place during metamorphosis. 



Mr. Banks said there must be some change in the local parts, 

 but not nearly as much as in the Dipt era. 



FEEDING HABITS OF PHLEBOTOMUS VEXATOR COO. 



BY RAYMOND C. SHANNON, Bureau of Entomology. 



The following recent observations by Dr. Paul Bartsch and the 

 writer tend to show that Phlebotornus vexator feeds normally 

 upon reptiles rather than upon warm-blooded animals. 



Late in the evening of July 19, 1913, a large copperhead si\ake 

 was shot and badly crippled at Plummer's Island, Maryland. It 

 still showed life the following morning when it was found to have 

 numbers of small bloodsucking flies, Phlebotomus vexator, feed- 

 ing upon it. The flies had their beaks inserted between the scales 

 of the snake. Several hours later, (about 10 a.m.), there were 

 still a number of these flies feeding, and some were so heavily 

 engorged that they were unable to fly. Males were present, two 

 being seen in copula with females. 



The morning of the same day (July 20), Dr. Bartsch caught a 

 black snake at Paris, Virginia, which had in addition to numerous 

 ticks, a few of these same flies sucking blood in the same manner 



1 Knowor, H. McE. Origin of the Xasutus of Eutermes, Johns Hopk. 

 I'niv., Circ.XIII, 1894. 



