132 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. xi. 



with the tenth which has the anterior end convex with a rather abrupt central pro- 

 tuberance, and the posterior end subtruncate. Forceps shorter than the last or tenth 

 segn'ent, which is nearly as large as the eighth and ninth together, the ninth being 

 about one half the size of the eighth. Forceps and last segment of the abdomen 

 light brown, the rest of the insect whitish. The whole insect covered sparsely with 

 hair-like bristles, these densest on the forceps. Abdominal appendages present, but 

 minute. 



Right arm of forceps with a large, broad based, sharply pointed and slightly 

 backward inclining tooth, placed on the lower inner margin and distant from the base 

 about one fourth the length of the arm. From this tooth to the base the arm is 

 slightly concave, but about equal in thickness throughout ; distally from the tooth the 

 margin is very abruptly deflexed inwardly (sometimes almost at a right angle), for 

 about one third the width of the arm ; at the end of this smooth sinus is a denticule, 

 generally broad and blunt, and some distance from this another similar one and be- 

 tween these two are often traces of two very blunt tubercles ; then the margin is 

 again deflexed, somewhat sharply and obliquely, this interrupted by two equal, saw- 

 tooth-like denticules, always distinct and about equidistant from each other and the 

 second denticule. No superior row of teeth. The left arm is very similar to the 

 right and presents no constant difference either in size, strength or dentation. 



Length without antennae 3.85 mm.; length of antennae .73 mm.; length of abdo- 

 men 2.55 mm.; length of last abdominal segment and forceps .43 mm.; length of 

 forceps .17 mm. 



Habitat : Southeastern Nebraska. 



Four specimens of this little Japyx are in the collection of the 

 University of Nebraska taken as follows : Malcolm, Nebr., May 4, 

 1901, one specimen ; Crab Orchard, Nebr., May 7, 1901, one speci- 

 men; Adams, Nebr., May 11, 1901, two specimens. In all cases 

 they were taken from among the roots of wheat growing in damp soil, 

 and are probably quite common when carefully looked for. It is very 

 different from any described species and may easily be distinguished 

 by the combination of very small size, itw joints in the antennae, the 

 head longer than broad, and the shape of the last three abdominal 

 segments, as well as by the similarity of the two arms and the peculiar 

 dentation of the forceps. 



COLOR-PREFERENCE IN INSECTS. 



By a. S. Packard. 



In my "Text Book of Entomology" I have briefly stated from 

 what sources I had access to, the little that was known up to 1898 as 

 to the color-preferences of insects. It appears that few observations 



