464 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. in 



Eight genera have been recognized for the South and Central American 

 species. The wing venation used here is explained in Ross (1956, 

 figs. 365-367). 



Key to Neotropical Genera of Glossosomatidae 



1. Wings, especially hind, reduced in size and venation . . Merionoptila Schmid 

 Wings not reduced 2 



2. All four branches of M present in forewing .... Culoptila Mosely 

 Only two or three branches of M present in forewing 3 



3. Two branches of M in forewing 4 



Three branches of M in forewing 6 



4. Cui branched apically in hindwing Mortoniella Ulmer 



Cui unbranched in hindwing 5 



5. Branching of M in forewing at about same level as branching of R4+6. 



Scotiotrichia Mosely 

 M branching much nearer wing margin than R4+5 . . . Mexitrichia Mosely 



6. R4+5 branching nearer forewing margin than R2+3 Canoptila Mosely 



R4+5 and R2+3 branching at nearly same level 7 



7. Cui in hindwing branching apically Antoptila Mosely 



Cui simple Protoptila Banks 



The larvae of the Protoptilinae are very poorly known at present. 

 Ross (1944) has described some particulars of the larva and pupa of 

 Protoptila lega Ross, and Flint (1962) the immatures of Mafrioptila 

 jeanae (Ross). The larvae of Mortoniella angulata, M. apiculata, M. 

 hodgesi, and Mexitrichia aries are described herein. The larvae of 

 these species and of Protoptila alexanderi Ross differ strikingly from 

 those of the Glossosomatinae in the structure of the anal claw. The 

 larvae of the glossosomatines have one large ventral hook and 1 or 2 

 dorsal accessory teeth. In the protoptilines the dorsal accessory 

 teeth apparently are divided longitudinally, hence there are 2 or more 

 pairs of accessory teeth, one row on each side of the ventral central 

 hook. In addition to the differences in the anal claw, there are dif- 

 ferences between the subfamilies in the apical spurs of the tibiae, 

 the sclerotization of the thoracic notae, and the symmetry of the 

 mandibles. 



The larvae appear to show generic differences, although criteria 

 for the separation of the species have yet to be found. The tarsal 

 and anal claws, apical spurs of the tibiae, and ninth tergite show some 

 of the most marked generic differences found so far. 



The following key is presented only as a guide to the characters 

 found in the previously mentioned species and will probably require 

 much modification when more species and genera become known. 



Key to the Genera of Protoptiline Larvae 



1. Tarsal claws trifid; ninth tergite with 3 pairs of setae; 3 pairs of accessory 

 anal teeth Matrioptila Ross 



