74 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Vol. xxviii. 



T, U. Dry seed capsules showing exit holes of Mompha circumscriptella and 



Momplia brevivittella. 

 V. Primrose stem during the winter showing the dry, open seed capsules. 



STUDIES IN RHYNCHOPHORA. IX. THE SEXES OF 

 CONOTRACHELUS BREVISETIS CHAMP. 



By D. Sharp, 

 Brockenhurst, Engl.\nd. 



The species was described by Champion (Biol. Centr. Amer., 4, 

 pt. IV, p. 402, pi. 20, figs. 14, 14a, h, and c), who recognized it as 

 occurring in Guatemala, Panama and Venezuela. I have recently 

 received a series from French Guiana which are apparently this 

 species; Mr. Champion after comparison of a pair of the Guiana 

 examples has decided that they are the same as the Central American 

 form. The species is remarkable externally on account of the last 

 dorsal being unusually extended forwards on the venter, as described 

 by Champion, " in the male the pygidium exposed and becoming ven- 

 tral." This character induced me to dissect some of my specimens, 

 as I have found that unusual shape of the last body-segment in the 

 male is usually accompanied by peculiar conformation of the internal 

 sexual apparatus. And on making dissection I found so strange a 

 structure that I forwarded specimens to Mr. F. Muir in Honolulu. 

 He and Mrs. Muir examined them carefully, and were so good as to 

 make drawings, which are reproduced on the plate accompanying 

 this paper. 



The male, figures 2 to 6, has the apex of the median lobe deflexed 

 so that it is at right angles with the body of the lobe, the struts ms. 

 are very short. The tegmen, tg., is a ring, without strut, but the 

 sides of the ring are prolonged as two delicate superior appendages, 

 tgt., the dorsum of the ring has only a very slender connection with 

 the side (fig. 3 shows this angle rather too robust). The body, ml., 

 of the median lobe shows a depression, mo., commencing before the 

 deflexed apex and continued for some distance on the deflexed 



