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XXII. On the affiniti/ of the cjenus Polyctenes, Gi- 

 (jlioll, xoWi a description of a neio species. Ijy 

 CiiAS. O. Waterhouse. 



[Read October 1st, 1870.] 



(Plates IX. and X.) 



The genus Pohjctenes was originally described by S. Gi- 

 glioli in the " Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science" 

 (Vol. IV. 1864, p. 23), the name having been proposed 

 by Prof. Westwood. It was described as belonging to 

 the Dipterous family NycterihiidcB. In the year 1874, 

 Prof. Westwood, in his " Thesaurus Entomologicus Ox- 

 oniensis," redescribes the genus, placing it under the head- 

 hig oi Anoplura, but states that a slight examination con- 

 vinced him that it had no affinity Avith Nycteribia, whilst 

 a more careful investigation showed that it possessed a 

 haustellum very similar in form to that of the genuine 

 Hemiptera-Hcteroptera. From this I infer that Prof. 

 '^Vcstwood considers that the genus has rather affinity 

 with the Hemiptera than the Diptera. The affinity, 

 however, Avith the Hemiptera appears to me to be quite 

 untenable; in fact, there are only tAvo characters, viz., the 

 form of the rostrum, and the fact that the species ap])ear 

 to undergo the " metamophosis dimidiata," Avhich seem to 

 link it AA'ith this order. On the other hand, the habits of 

 the insects, Avhicli are pai'asitical upon bats, and the pecu- 

 liar form of the claws, resemble those of the Dipterous 

 family HippohoscidcB. I think, hoAvever, that the question 

 is satisfactorily decided by comparison Avith some allied 

 species. 



In the British Museum collection there is an insect 

 AA'hich I belicA'c to be from Colombia, Avhich, in its general 

 characters, resembles Polyctenes, but AA^hich possesses a 

 pair of Avings, and is evidently allied to the llippoboscidce. 

 This insect has the abdomen Avithout divisions into seg- 

 ments, in which it resembles Hippnbosca; but it is Avithout 

 eyes, and the general form of the head, Avith the curious 

 fringe or comb of spines to the posterior margin, apju'oach 



TIIANS. ENT. SOC. 1879. — PAKT IV. (dKC.) 



