﻿SOLOMON ISLANDS TRIPTEROIDES — BELKIN 269 



"Tulagi, in house, 1 $ (Dr. A. G. Garment) . 



"In many respects this answers to Taylor's description of R. omata^ 

 but he describes the venter as 'darker than the dorsal surface, clothed 

 with blackish-brown scales'; and does not mention any markings on 

 the femora. The species is very distinct from all others known to 

 the writer by the thoracic ornamentation." 



Male^ larva^ and pupa. — Unknown. 



Taxonoinic discussion. — In the possession of a patch of broad scales 

 in front of the wing root distigm/i resembles hinotata^ but the latter 

 has different femoral ornamentation and has silvery spots on the 

 abdomen. Greenish scutal scales are present in purpv/rata (Ed- 

 wards), but this species is also amply distinct on the basis of broad 

 scales on the posterior pronota. 



There should be no difficulty in recognizing this species on the basis 

 of the original description. As far as is known only the type female 

 has been collected. The Florida group of islands has not been 

 especially well collected and with diligent search this species can 

 probably be located, especially since the adults enter houses. 



There is a possibility that floridensis described in this paper from 

 the larval stage is conspecific with distigma as it, too, has been col- 

 lected only in the Florida group. The reasons leading the author to 

 the description of -floridensis are indicated under the discussion of that 

 species. 



Distrihution. — Solomon Islands: Florida group: Tulagi (A. G. 

 Garment), Edwards (1925) [tyj^e 9]. 



TRIPTEROIDES FLORIDENSIS, new species 



Figures 34, e, g, h 



Distinctive characters. — Larvae: Maxilla normal, without apical 

 spines. Mesothorax without spine, metathorax with pair of bifid 

 spines. Stellate tufts numerous, well developed but not conspicuous, 

 two pairs per segment dorsally on abdomen. Comb scales arising from 

 lateral sclerotized plate, five to eight in number, very sharply pointed. 

 Siphon index 5 : 1, six or more inconspicuous pecten teeth. 



Male, female, and pupa. — Unknown. 



Description of larva (fig. 34, e, g, h). — Head (fig. 34, h) : About as 

 long as wide, uniformly yellowish. Antennae very short, smooth, 

 narrowed at base, widest before middle ; shaft hair simple, inserted 

 on outer surface basad of middle. Dorsal head hairs all simple, 

 smooth, slender, inconspicuous. Ventral head hairs also poorly de- 

 veloped : Postmaxillary short, with several branches ; submental short, 

 inserted near basal pits; others simple, basal very long. Clypeal 

 spines slender, directed downward. Mouth parts normal; mandible 

 with a long articulated spine at outer apex; maxilla very wide and 



