122 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



median line extending back apparently to a fuscous ocular spot 

 near the anterior extremity of the second body segment. Gen- 

 eral coloring of the body yellowish white, the anterior and pos- 

 terior segments slightly smaller than the median ones. 



Pupa. Length 1.5 cm, the thoracic segments somewhat 

 swollen, the abdominal segments of a nearly uniform diameter, 

 each separated by a strong constriction ; color a variable yellow- 

 ish brown and dark brown, the deeper coloring being confined 

 largely to the wing and leg cases and the abdominal incisures. 

 Anterior extremity truncate, the lateral angles bearing the short, 

 subcorneal antennal cases ; thoracic horns short, subconic. Wing 

 cases extending to the middle of the second abdominal segment, 

 the leg cases to the anterior margin of the third abdominal seg- 

 ments. Abdominal segments 9, with a rudimentary 10th, each 

 separated by a deep constriction; near the middle of segments 

 1-7 a stout conic spine laterally and posteriorly an irregular, 

 sparse band of short, stout setae. Posterior extremity produced, 

 apically with a pair of submedian, long chitinous processes. 



The adult was reared May 1, 191 1, permitting the identification 

 of the above described early stages. 



Blood worms (Chironomus species). A good sized, living 

 blood worm, some 8 mm long and dark red, was brought into the 

 office January 6, 191 1 from the Bender Hygienic Laboratory, ac- 

 companied by the statement that it was blown from the nose of 

 a lady who had suffered from several attacks of nosebleed, the 

 larva being found upon her handkerchief. The specimen was 

 transmitted to the Bender Laboratory by Dr J. E. Vigent of Red 

 Hook, N. Y. The blood worms are stated by Johannsen to feed 

 upon the small, red worms known as Tubifex or other small 

 creatures presumably containing hemoglobin in the blood. It 

 hardly seems possible that this creature could have been respon- 

 ble for the nosebleed; it may have been taken into the mouth 

 accidentally when drinking and, in a fit of coughing, thrown up 

 into the upper respiratory passages. 



Teratology. Deformities of antennae and other appendages 

 are comparatively common among insects, though asymmetrical 

 modifications of the body, aside from those due to hermaphrodit- 

 ism, are comparatively rare. An interesting malformation of the 

 abdomen was detected in the case of a specimen of W i n t h e m i a 

 q u a d r i p u s t u 1 a t a Fabr. (plate 8, figure 3) taken at Pough- 

 keepsie, N. Y., July 17, 1903. It will be noted from an examination 

 of the illustration that the second abdominal segment is wanting 

 on the right side, while on the left it appears to have attained 

 almost a normal development. 



