CYDNIDAE OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE — FROESCHNER 553 



Scutellum: Length-width ratio, 2.39(2.08-2.66) : 2.32(2.08-2.66). 



Length of body: 6.65(5.70-7.56). 



Type oATA.^Uhler's types (USNM) were reported from ''Cuba, 

 sent from Havana by Prof. FeHpe Poey, and from the interior of the 

 island by Mr. Charles Wright; also, from near St. John's River, 

 Florida." Signoret's type specimen (Wien) from "California" bears 

 a red type label and is hereby designated the lectotype. His other 

 type specimen (USNM) is labeled "Nicaragua." 



Specimens studied. — 37 males, 50 females. 



United States: Alabama: Mobile; November. California: No exact locality. 

 Florida: Crescent City, Dunedin, Gainesville, Indian River, Key West, Lacoochee, 

 Lakeland, Liitz, Melrose, Miami, St. Augustine; January to December. Georgia: 

 Thomasville, Tifton; July. Illinois: Grant City State Park; June. Mississippi: 

 Biloxi; April. North Carolina: Southern Pines; January. South Carolina: 

 Berkeley Co., Florence; February, April. Tennessee: AUardt, Roane Co.; April, 

 June, Texas: Alligator Head, Bastrop, Navasota, Uvalde, Waco; May, June. 



Nicaragua: No exact locality. 



British West Indies: Anguilla; October. Santo Domingo Cay; April. 



Cuba: Baraqud, "Central Saronu," Habana, Maisi, Pico Turquino, Santiago 

 de las Vegas, Soledad, Taco Taco; April to August. 



Haiti: "Diquini," "fitang Lachaux," Grande Rivifere, P6tionville, August, 

 October. 



Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo; May. 



Puerto Rico: Bayam6n; January. 



Bahamas: South Bimini Island; July. 



Discussion.— After a study of more than 80 specimens from across 

 the United States and the islands of the Caribbean (including both 

 of Signoret's types), the identity oiAethus communis Uhler and Aethus 

 politus Signoret is apparent. Dr. Sailer compared the types of Sig- 

 noret's politus with the Uhler types of communis and expressed agree- 

 ment as to the specific identity of the two. Uhler's species was well 

 defined and so is easily identified ; Signoret's species was compared to 

 it and three special differences were pointed out: more constricted 

 form of the pro thorax, freer end of the osteolar canal, and the polished 

 area laterad of the vaporative areas smooth but "strioles punctucs" 

 in communis. The first two of these differences appear quite variable, 

 even in specimens from the same localitj^ and combine with other 

 variable characters in several ways. The third character concerning 

 the sculptured lateral polished area does not appear in any specimens 

 at hand, suggesting that perhaps the specimens of communis to which 

 Signoret referred w^ere unusual in that respect. The most unusual 

 thing about Signoret's types is that they came from widely separated 

 localities outside of the range of the species as determined here; but 

 since both types were seen, there can be no doubt about their being 

 identical with communis. 



