A REVISION OF THE GENUS LEPTOCONOPS, SKUSE. 23 



kindness of Professor L. O. Howard and Dr. J. M. iMdrich) from typical examples of 

 L. kerteszi. Indeed, allowing for minute differences which come within the range of 

 individual variation, the only distinguishing details appear to be the formation of an 

 interspace by the first and third veins (fig. 8, k) and the slightly different form of the 

 spermathecae. These are almost spherical in the Utah specimens, whereas they are 

 obovate in the ^Mediterranean examples. Males of both forms, when forthcoming and 

 compared, may possibly reveal distinctive antennal or genital characters, but until 

 such time the American form can, at the most, be accorded varietal rank. 



Habitat. United States of America : Utah, Salt Lake, June, " biting devihshly " 

 {H. S. Barber). Three females (cotypes) in the collections of the United States 

 National Museum and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. 



Leptoconops lacteipennis, Kieff. 



Leptoconops lacteipennis, Kieff., Ann. Mus. Nat. Hung, xvi, p. 32 (1918). 



This species, described from a female captured in Tunis, apparently difters from 

 L. kerteszi chiefly in the metatarsi being devoid of spines, the segments of the flagellum 

 more uniformh' transversely oval, and the fifth tarsal segment shorter than the fourth. 

 The last character should enable the species to be identified without difficulty, since, 

 so far as I am aware, it is unique in this respect. 



The more important of the specific characters given by Ivieffer are as follows : — 



$. — Black. Fourth to twelfth antennal segments transverse (from the figure 

 accompanying the description, the length varies from 0-6 to 0-7 times the breadth), 

 thirteenth segment slightly longer than the three preceding segments together. 

 ]\Iesonotum shining. Halteres white. Wings milky white, extending almost to the 

 tip of the abdomen ; third vein reaching almost to the middle of the wing, fifth vein 

 bifurcating slightly before the extremity of the third vein. Legs black, without 

 spines, tarsi brown ; tarsal segments 1 to 4 graduallj^ decreasing in length, the fifth 

 segment shorter than the fourth. Claws simple, equal, each with a bristle arising 

 from the base. Abdomen brownish black. Length, 2 mm. 



Leptoconops interruptus, End. 



Mycterotypus interruptus, End., Denks. Med. Ges. Jena, i, pp. 133-162 (1908). 



The description of this species given by Enderlein relates largely to characters of a 

 general nature, and details which, in the light of our present knowledge of the group, 

 must be considered of value in separating such closely allied forms receive little 

 attention. Nevertheless, with the help of the figures accompanying the description, 

 it would appear that L. interruptus is very close to, if not identical with, L. kerteszi. 

 Weiss (1912) observed the close relationship existing between these species, and 

 especially noted the affinities existing in regard to the spinose armature of the 

 metatarsi and the structure of the antennae. Since, however, the exact arrangement 

 of the metatarsal spines is not of specific importance, it seems that the only 

 tangible differential character is afforded by the antennae. Enderlein states that 

 the third to twelfth segments are spherical, and that the last segment is twice as 

 long as broad ; this would indicate, also, that the terminal segment was approximately 

 equal in length to the two preceding segments together. In L. kerteszi the last 

 segment is at least three times as long as broad, and is equal in length to the three to 

 four preceding segments. 



A re-examination of the type or the examination of further material from South- 

 West Africa (Enderlein's example came from Rooibank, hinterland of Walfish Bay) is 

 necessary, before a decision regarding the validity of one or both of these species can 

 be made. 



