Family Ischnopsyllidae Wahlgren 107 



EPTESCOPSYLLA, NEW GENUS 



Maxilla acuminate. Ocular bristle absent. Remains of the 

 vestigial eyes distinct, more or less oval. In addition to the genal 

 ctenidium, two other combs are present, the pronotal ctenidium 

 consisting of long slender spines, and a false comb on the 

 seventh abdominal tergite consisting of thickened dorsal 

 bristles. Metanotum and abdominal tergites I to III with two 

 or three short, stout teeth on a side. Antepygidial bristles 

 absent. 



Genotype: Nycteridopsylla chapini Jordan 



This genus is most closely allied to Nycteridopsylla Oude- 

 mans, from which it differs by the absence of false ctenidia on 

 the anterior abdominal tergites (I to III) . It may be readily 

 separated from the other eastern genera by the absence of an 

 ocular bristle. It is represented in the East by a single species. 



Eptescopsylla chapini (Jordan) 



(Plate XXX) 



1929 Nycteridopsylla chapini Jordan, Nov. Zool., 35:39, PI. II, figs. 30, 31. 



Male. Preantennal region of the head with six bristles, two 

 of which are located near the genal spines, two near the an- 

 tennal groove, and two in the middle region of the frons. Spines 

 of the genal ctenidium oblique, the posterior almost twice as 

 long as the anterior. Genal process not heavily sclerotized, 

 rounded behind. Labial palpus about one-half as long as the 

 anterior coxa. First segment of the antenna with four or five 

 small setae; second antennal segment with four or five long 

 bristles. Postantennal region with three rows of irregularly 

 arranged bristles (Plate XXX, fig. 160). Pronotum with a 

 single row of bristles and a ctenidium of about fifteen pointed 

 spines on a side. Meso- and metathorax richly supplied with 

 more or less irregularly arranged bristles. False comb of 

 abdominal tergite VII consisting of eight or nine robust bristles 

 on a side. Modified segments: Clasper divided into two well- 

 separated processes, of which the dorsal is somewhat longer 

 than the ventral. Dorsal process with a long bristle arising 

 medially near the base; ventral process with a long, stout bristle 

 situated apically. Movable finger bifurcate, dorsal branch 

 curved, truncate, and without long bristles, ventral branch 

 much longer and wider, with a fringe of five or six long bristles 



