90(5 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



TRICHOTAPHE Clemens. 



Plate XXXII, UK- :^:^- 



7Vie/iota^7ie Clemens, Proc. Acad. Nat. 8ci. Phila., I860, p. 166. 



Bego'e Chambers, Can. Ent., IV, 1872, p. 24. 



Epicurthylis Zeller, Verb. k. k. zool.-bot. Gesell. Wien, XXIII, 1873, p. 248. 



M<(laeotricha Zeller, Verb. k. k. zool.-bot. Gesell. Wien, XXIII, 1873, p. 282. 



Beiioe Chambers is the same as Malacotricha Zeller, ei"ectecl on the 

 same species, 



I have before me authentic specimens of the types and of all Amer- 

 ican species hitherto included in these three g;enera, besides several 

 other described and undescribed species belonging to this group. 



After examining them very caref ull3^ and after comparing critically 

 the descriptions and figures given by the authors, it is my opinion 

 that these three genera are artificial divisions of one natural group, 

 and that the}' should not be retained. 



All three genera have exact!}' the same venation, wing form, and 

 general habitus, and differ only in the slight modification of the hairs 

 on second joint of the labial palpi, Trlchotnphe being supposed to ■ 

 include the forms with perfectly smooth though thickened palpi; ; 

 Bego'e {Mdlacotrlcha) those where the hairs on the upper (inner) side 

 of second joint are somewhat longer and looser, and Epicorthylh rep- I 

 resenting those where these hairs are still more developed. 



♦ However, these differences pass so gradually into each other that in | 

 most cases a species can be equally well placed in two of the genera, 

 and species which are evidently very close otherwise will be found 

 to differ in respect to these hairs, while others, clearly farther apart, 

 will be found to agree in the form of the palpi. 



In his characterization of Trlchotaphe Clemens was aware of these 

 modifications of tho labial palpi, but rightfully gave them only specific 

 value. 



Zeller himself also conceded this^ and wrote: 



Wabrscheinlicb baben die Malaculrichen gleicben Aderverlauf [as Triobotapbe 

 (A. B. )]. Die kleine Verschiedenbeit in der Bebaarung der Taster zwiscben Malaco- 

 trichc nnd TvU-hotaphe bat Clemens sicber mit Recbt nicbt ' als Gattungsinerkmal 

 betrachtet. 



And anyone who will compare Zeller's figures of KpiroiihyVix and 

 MidacJiotriehe" and who knows that the venation and other characters 

 are identical in the two forms will be apt to concede that the two 

 genera are not seyjarable. 



The genus Triehotaphe as here used, including all these closely 

 related forms is near Ypsolophus, and some of the species approach 

 this genus markedly in the form of the palpi as well as in coloration. 



n^erb. k. k. zool.-bot. Gesell. Wien, XXIII, p. 279. 

 ^'Pl. Ill, tig. 13 a. b. and fi<r. 28 a. b. 



