THYSANOPTERA OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. II 



D. L. CRAWFORD. 



Euthrips minutus Moulton 



This species has a wide distribution throughout California and quite natu- 

 rally, therefore, it is by no means constant in certain respects. Since de- 

 scribing the variety sctosus of this species in the previous number of Pom. 

 lourn. Ent., I have received author's specimens of E- minutus from Mr. Moul- 

 ton. After a careful comparison of these with the var. sctosus, and, also, with 

 closely related specimens taken at Elsinore, Cal., by C. F. Baker, I have come 

 to the conclusion that neither of these latter are true varieties, but all merely 

 forms of the same variable species. The original description was drawn from 

 one specimen, and that, no doubt, is accountable for the fact that some 

 important details were omitted from the description and accompanying illustra- 

 tions ; in the specimens sent me by Mr. Moulton I find the following varia- 

 tions from his figures : on the posterior margin of the prothorax there are three 

 small spines, one larger than the other two between the second and third 

 spines on each side (Contribution to our Knowledge of California Thysanop- 

 tera, Moulton, 1907, p. 56, Fig. 32) ; also the number of spines on anterior 

 margin of fore-wing and on both veins is not constant, and sometimes not the 

 same even on the two wings of one specimen. A comparison of the figure 

 referred to above with Fig. 47A on p. 106, Pom. Journ. Ent. Vol. I., will show 

 beyond a doubt that the extra prothoracic spine of var. sctosus is nothing 

 more than the longer of the three spines, not shown in Moulton's illustrations, 

 merely more developed and longer, while the two spines beside it have re- 

 mained minute in all specimens. Inasmuch as the species itself is variable in 

 regard to the spines on the forewing, it is simply impossible to found a new 

 variety on that basis. 



Furthermore, the antennae of the species are sometimes nearly three times 

 as long as head, instead of twice ; and the prolongation of the vertex, shown 

 in var. sctosus, is present also in the species. One point of variation, how- 

 ever, between the northern and southern forms is in the apparent absence of 

 the orange crescents, bordering the ocelli, in the southern forms. 



After such a comparison, the only reasonable thing to do is to let E. min- 

 utus sctosus m. fall into synonymy as a good variety, and amend the descrip- 

 tion of the species as follows : Anterior margin of head almost straight, zvitli 

 a small notched prolongation betivecn insertion of antennae; ocelli sometimes 

 margined inwardly with large orange crescents: antennae z'arying in length 

 from two to three times as long as head. 



Posterior margin of prothorax with four spines on each side, the third 

 spine relatively shorter in some forms. Wings reaching to tip of abdomen, 



