NEW MOTH-FLIES (PSYCHODID^) BRED FROM BROME- 

 LIACE^ AND OTHER PLANTS. 



By Frederick Knab, 



Custodian of Diptera, United States Natioial Museum. 



While on an entomological investigation in southern Mexico the 

 writer gave some attention to the inhabitants of the epiphytic Brome- 

 liacese, which are so characteristic a feature of our American tropics. 

 Dipterous larvae were present in the water at the leaf bases of the 

 plants in considerable numbers and variety, and among them those 

 of Psychodidffi. These psychodid larvae were dark in color and had 

 a rather long breathing tube, by which they suspended themselves 

 from the surface film in the manner of culicid larvae. Theii' move- 

 ments were slow, and when disturbed they sank to the bottom. The 

 pupae are free swimming, like those of Culicidse, but not very active. 

 The larvae proved difficult to rear, but several were brought through 

 to imago. Correspondence with Dr. J. H. Pazos, of Cuba, and Mr. 

 A. H. Jennmgs, then in Panama, brought about the rearmg of addi- 

 tional species by these gentlemen. The species all proved to be 

 unknown, as was to be expected, and are described herewith. No 

 doubt other species peculiar to the water of Bromeliacese exist, and 

 still others in similar habitats; in fact, one from a plant of another 

 family is included in the follo\\dng. 



In the descriptions I have used the generic name Psychoda in the 

 broadest sense, fully realizing that the species are not typical. It 

 would have been easy to create new genera for them, but I prefer to 

 await a more complete elucidation of the group. I can only indorse 

 the remarks of Mr. Brunetti on this subject.^ In the terminology of 

 the whig venation I have adopted that of this author as logical and 

 the most convenient. The scale vestiture of the body and wings, in 

 the forms here described, is long and hau-like, and by most authors 

 would be termed hah-s. 



PSYCHODA AMPLIPENNA, new species. 



Male. — Dark, densely clothed with long black vestiture; antennas 

 pale; wings marked mth white. Antenna long, nearly as long as 

 the body, pale, the nodes globose, brownish luteous, with dense whorls 



1 Fauna of British India, Diptera Nematocera, 1912, p. 198. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 46— No. 2015. 



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