﻿SOLOMON ISLANDS TRIPTEROIDES — BELKIN 211 



Solomon Islands. Maorigoeldia does not concern us, as it is repre- 

 sented by a single species endemic in New Zealand, but all the other 

 subgenera are represented in the Solomons. 



Rachisoura is considered by Lee to be a valid subgenus principally 

 on the basis of modified spined maxillae in the larvae. This char- 

 acter is not entirely satisfactory and is discussed below under Mime- 

 ttromyia. The only adult character correlated with this appears to 

 be the presence of only broad outstanding scales on the dorsal surface 

 of veins 1 and 2 and its branches. Two groups are recognized by Lee. 

 The filipes-group has outstanding wing scales broad on the dorsal 

 surface of all veins and a single posterior pronotal bristle always 

 present. All the Rachisoura known in the Solomons fall into this 

 group. The vanleeuiveni-grou-p is characterized by broad scales only 

 on veins 1 and 2 and no posterior pronotal bristles. 



The subgenus 3Iimeteo7nij{a has been considerably modified by Lee 

 (1946), who characterizes it as follows: Outstanding wing scales all 

 long and narrow, male palpi usually almost as long as the proboscis 

 but sometimes reduced, dull-colored species without silvery or azure 

 markings ; larval maxillae unmodified, thoracic spines present in some 

 species. Three groups are recognized: (1) atr^ipes-growp, in which 

 the male palpi are long and the proboscis is not longer than the abdo- 

 men, in the larvae both mesothorax and metathorax with spines and a 

 lateral sclerotized plate on the eighth abdominal segment; (2) 

 caledonica-gr oup, in which the male palpi are long but the proboscis 

 is very slender and longer than the abdomen ; (3) ohscura-group, with 

 short male palpi and short stout proboscis. Tripteroides solomonis 

 is a typical member of the atripes-gr oup, but T. coheni, which fits well 

 with the adult characters of argenteiventris of the caledmiica-gvowp, 

 exhibits larval characters intermediate between the subgenera 

 Rachisoura and M imeteomyia. The maxillae have apical spines al- 

 most half as long as the body of the maxilla. Other characters sug- 

 gestive of Rachisoura are also noted in this species. It would seem then 

 that Rachisoura should be based on adult characters rather than 

 larval. The two subgenera may have to be modified in the future, but 

 they serve a useful purpose at the present time. 



The subgenus Tripteroides includes all the species with very short 

 palpi in both sexes and a very long, slender proboscis that is usually 

 longer than the abdomen. The majority of the species are ornamented 

 with azure-blue on the head and silvery markings on the thorax and 

 abdomen. The larvae have unmodified maxillae and may have spines 

 on the metathorax and also the mesothorax. Two groups are recog- 

 nized: (1) aranoides-gronp, without dorsocentral bristles, without 

 spotting on the femora and the light scaling of the abdomen and thorax 

 not silver, the scutal scales broad ; (2) nitidoventer-gronp with dorso- 



