REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS IN 

 THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1892. 



By C. V. Riley, Honorary Curator. 



Although most of the time during the past fiscal year lias been 

 devoted to the study collections in the laboratory, some improvements 

 have been made in the exhibit collections, especially in the systematic 

 series, where numerous illustrations and specimens have been added, 

 making it almost complete. 



ACCESSIONS. 



Many important accessions have been received during - the year, 

 among which the following may be mentioned: 



(1) One hundred, and thirty-five species in about 400 specimens of Heteroptera, 

 collected in various parts of the world, authoritatively named, from Prof. A. L. Mon- 

 tandon, Bucarest, Roumania (Ace. 24579, 25244, and 25520). These have in part been 

 paid for by exchange. 



(2) Series of Californian insects, collected by Mr. D. W. Coquillet, of Los Angeles, 

 Cal., and transferred to the Museum collection by the curator, as follows: Diptera, 

 23 species in 182 specimens (Types); Coleoptera, about 100 species in 720 specimens; 

 Orthoptera, 35 species in 116 specimens; Humenopiera, 109 species in 400 specimens; 

 Homoptera, 40 species in 200 specimens; Hemiptera, 107 species in 575 specimens; 

 Lepidoptera, 56 species in 159 specimens; Neuroptera, 17 species iii 43 specimens; 

 includes much valuable material in all orders (Ace. 24628, 24816, 24890, 24950, 25005, 

 25111, 25356, 25400). 



(3) From the Department of Agriculture: Collection of insects made by Mr. A. 

 Koebele during the Death Valley Expedition from the Department of Agriculture in 

 the spring of 1891. Contains about 636 species in 3,473 specimens. Good and excel- 

 lently preserved material. 



(4) Collection of Lepidoptera (native and exotic) from Mr. G. Beyer, of New York. 

 Nine hundred species in about 1,900 specimens, nearly all large and showy forms, 

 besides many North American and European species new to our collection. This is 

 the largest acquisition of tropical butterflies ever made by the Museum. It was 

 obtained by exchange for a corresponding number of North American Coleoptera 

 from our duplicate series, that were new to Mr. Beyer's collection. This one and 

 the previous accession are the most valuable during the year. (Ace. 25378.) 



(5) Collection of Aculeate Hymenoptera, about 4,000 specimens of 675 North Ameri- 

 can species (including types of 25 species described by Mr. William Fox), and 100 

 exotic species from Mr. William Fox, Academy Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. Pur- 

 chased by the Museum. (Ace. 25769.) 



(6) Collection of insects of all orders, made by Mr. H. F. Wickham in the North- 

 western States, British Columbia, and Alaska. About 1,200 specimens, transferred 

 to the Museum collection by the curator. (Ace. 25554.) 



(7) Lepidotera from Trinidad, about 15,000 specimens of 95 species, from Mr. <;. 

 Turner Wayman, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Purchased by the Museum. (Ace. 25335.) 



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