356 



destructor) of angustatus, (Fifth Report Insects of Missouri, p. 113,) 

 viz, that " the species is so variable that it is difficult to see wherein 

 some of the specimens differ from the European thymi or from angusta- 

 tus Uhler " will probably hold true. 



THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 



December ^, 1890. — The corresponding secretary read a paper by Mr. P. R. Uhler, 

 entitled "Observations on some remarkable forms of Capsidae," in which were de- 

 scribed two new genera, Heidemannia and Peritropius, represented by one species 

 each, viz, H. cixiiformis and P. saldceformis. The paper also contained a note on the 

 recent discovery by Mr. Heidemaun in the District of one of Say's long-lost species, 

 Cylapus tenuiconiis. 



Mr. Howard read a paper on the "Parasites of the Hemerobiinae," in which he 

 spoke of the known Hymenopterous parasites and added the Encyrtid genus Isodromua 

 as the only known primary parasite in the country, with the single exception of the 

 egg-parasite mentioned by him on page 10, vol. 1 of the society's proceedings. 



Mr. Marlatt presented a note, in which he proposed the specific name unicolor for 

 a species of Monoctenus, the'larva of which feeds on the red cedar. This saw-fly had 

 been described by him as M. juniperi (see Trans. Kans. Acad.of Sci., vol. x, p. 82), 

 which name was preoccupied by a European species of the genus. 



Mr. Banks read a paper on Thalamia parietaUs Hentz, a spider which he had taken 

 in Texas and which had been lost since Hentz's time. In studying this species in 

 connection with the PholcidtP, Scytodidse, Filistatidie, Urocteidjc, Enyoidte, and 

 Hersilidse, he reached the conclusion that these spiders are closely related and ought 

 to be included in one group of family importance, for which he proposes Dugfes' 

 name Micrognathes changed to Micrognathidae. 



Mr. Townsend read some notes on Tachiuida?! sens. lat., synonyniical and critical, 

 with particular reference to the confusion of the sexes by early describers. A num- 

 ber of species were noticed and several new ones were described. 



Professor Riley read and commented on letters from Mr. William H. Ashmead, now 

 studying in Berlin, and Mr. S. S. Rathvon, of Lancaster, Pa. He then read a note on 

 an exotic roach {PancJilora viridis), which he had recently received from Dr. C. F. Giss- 

 ler, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The remarkable feature was that the roach was certainly 

 viviparous, a habit believed not to have been hitherto recorded of any species of 

 the family Blattidse. Figures of the parent roach and of its young greatly enlarged 

 were shown. Professor Riley gave an account also of his additional study of Platy- 

 psyllus, in which he mentioned the discovery of a large number of insects (and some 

 mites and myriapods) which are associated with the beaver either accidentally or as 

 parasites or guests. He also called attention to the curious larvsB exhibited by 

 C. J. Gahan at the October 1, 1890, meeting of the London Entomological Society. 

 Professor Riley thought from the short description that they must belong to the 

 Blepharoceridce. He also referred to the undetermined larva described by Mrs. Julia 

 P. Ballard in the October number of Entomological News, p. 124, and said that it was 

 without doubt the larva of atheroma septilchralis G. & R. He then called attention 

 to an interesting paper read by Professor Forbes at the recent meeting of the Associa- 

 tion of Economic Eutomologists, relating to the periods of transformation and to the 

 specific characters of Lachuosterna larvae. These matters were discussed at consid- 

 erable length by Professor Riley, and two new parasites of Lachuosterna were 

 added to those hitherto known. 



Mr. Schwarz presented a note "On the feeding habits of Empidae," in w^hich he 

 described the habits in this regard of a species of the genus Syneches, which was very 

 abundant iu the mountains at Fort Pendleton, Maryland, during the first part of 

 July. Their vertical position in flight and peculiar method of holding their prey 



