140 INSECUTOR INSCITI^ MENSTRUUS 



THE GRABHAMIA GROUP OF PSOROPHORA 



(Dipt era, Culicidce) 

 By HARRISON G. DYAR 



The species of Psorophora with simple claws in the female 

 comprise the Grabhamia group. Were it not for a single spe- 

 cies, this group could be recognized as a subgenus on charac- 

 ters of the male hypopygium. In Psorophora proper, the 

 claspette is free and with numerous appendages, well distrib- 

 uted over the tip of the organ. In the subgenus Janthinosoma 

 these appendages are all ranged on the inner side, the bare 

 side of the claspette being directed toward the side-piece. In 

 Grabhamia the appendages are reduced and the outer or bare 

 side of the claspette has become united to the side-piece, the 

 appendages appearing like a basal lobe thereof. Unfortunately 

 the single species cyanescens Coq. has toothed claws in the 

 female adult and is therefore a Janthinosoma, whereas the male 

 hypopygium has the structure of Grabhamia, the claspette 

 being fused to the side-piece. On this account it is impossible 

 to recognize Grabhamia as a third subgenus of Psorophora. 



The Grabhamia divide into two series, the first with dark 

 scales only on the wings, cingulatus Fab., of which confinnis 

 Lynch Arrib. and neoapicalis Theob. are derivative forms or 

 synonyms, and infine D. & K. a distinct derivative species 

 inhabiting Santo Domingo. The second series, with both 

 dark and pale scales on the wings, comprises the jamaicensis 

 group and the small insular species, pygmaea Theob., harus- 

 picus D. & K., and insularius D. & K. 



Concerning the jamaicensis group, I am satisfied that too 

 many names have been recognized in the monograph. The 

 characters of coloration used are individual and inconstant, 

 especially in regard to the width of the white ring on the first 

 hind tarsal joint. In regard to the male hypopygium, while 

 the differences are slight, they are perhaps important. In 

 jamaicensis from Jamaica there are but five appendages on the 

 harpago ; from Cuba and continental North America, six ; from 



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