1917] New Species of Mallophaga 171 



Trichodectes monticolus n. sp. 



Six females and two males (Bishopp No. 6837) from skunk, 

 Topaz, Calif., September 15, 1916, coll. J. L. Webb. 



This species, from the California Sierras, is nearest T. 

 mephitidis Osb. from which it differs as follows: Female. — 

 A fairly well-developed angle at point of junction of temples 

 with occiput; hairs on front of head; lateral borders of meta- 

 thorax strongly converging, posterior border widely and deeply 

 excavated. Male. — Frontal emargination represented merely 

 by a transparent spot; antennae with basal joint not greatly 

 longer than third, a pair of angulated processes on the basal and 

 second joints at the dividing suture which are opposed to one 

 another, terminal joint with a blunt spur on posterior margin 

 near base; antennal sinuses more deeply excavated; temporal 

 lobes more prominent. 



Description of Female. — Total length, 1.07 mm.; length of head, 

 .313 mm. ; length of prothorax, .062 mm. ; length of metathorax, .038 mm; 

 length of abdomen, .665 mm. ; width of head across temples, .380 mm. ; 

 width of prothorax, .280 mm.; width of metathorax, .313 mm.; \\'idth 

 of abdomen, .541 mm. 



Head about one-fifth wider than long, rather generally rounded 

 anteriorly, with a small but distinct median emargination, and with the 

 usual trabecula-like flaps before each antenna. Antennal sinuses rather 

 shallow. Ocular projections prominent. Temporal margins parallel 

 one another for a short distance behind eyes, but soon converge to meet 

 the occipital margin at an obtuse angle. Starting at these angles the 

 occipital margin on either side first cun'es inward and then bends 

 back again to form a strong median convexity. Antennal bands 

 rather broad and ver}' distinct, anteriorly bending abruptly at an acute 

 angle to form expanded, backward-pointing bars which inclose a clear 

 area behind the emargination, and continued distinctly across the 

 antennal bases to the well-defined ocular blotch. A semicircular, 

 hyaline flap projects backv\'ard, dorsally, just within that portion of the 

 antennal bands lying abreast of the trabeculae. Occipital bands at 

 their bases broad and distinct, continued narrower and fainter about 

 half way to the ocular blotches. Underlying bands are visible extending 

 from the bases of the occipital bands to the mandibles. Five weak 

 hairs occur on each anterior margin between the frontal emargination 

 and the trabeculae, one weak hair arises from the rear of the eye, five 

 short hairs occtir along the temporal margin, and one long hair arises 

 on each side at the temporal-occipital angle. Antennae of average 

 size, the last joint the longest, but with no marked difference between 

 them. 



Thorax three and one-third times as wide as long. Prothorax 

 sub-rectangular, with posterior margin slightly convex. A weak spine 



