146 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



MARGINAL WING-BRISTLES IN LEPIDOPTERA. 

 By Prof. C. H. Fernald. 



In the February number of this Journal {ante, p. 47), Mr. 

 Ambrose Quail gives an illustrated article on the above subject, 

 and states that he has read a great deal that has been written 

 in reference to wing-structure in the Le[)idoptera, but finds no 

 reference to the presence of erect marginal bristles at regular 

 intervals on the wings of certain Lepidoptera. 



I have figured and described these bristles in two different 

 works — * The Crambidas of North America,' p. 10, plate A, fig. 11 

 (1896) ; ' The Gypsy Moth,' p. 341, plate 52, figs. 8 and 9 (1896). 

 I have observed these spines in the wings of many of the Lepi- 

 doptera, and have never examined the wings of any Lepidopterous 

 insect without finding them. I should therefore be surprised if 

 they are not found in all the species of this order. 



They are not always curved as shown in Mr. Quail's illus- 

 tration ; but, while some are curved, others on the same wing 

 are straight, as those figured in the Gypsy Moth, mentioned 

 above, which under high powers of the microscope appeared to 

 be hollow, with a minute opening at the outer end. While I 

 do not feel like expressing a positive opinion as to their function, 

 I had supposed that they might be connected with scent glands 

 beneath, or that they might be sense organs of some kind, and 

 that the two circles near the end of each vein, which are more 

 easily seen than these spines, are also sense organs. 



I have less doubt about the function of the spiny area near 

 the base of the under side of the hind margin of the fore wings 

 of many (not all) Lepidoptera, and also in a few species in other 

 orders. A good account of this area and its function may be 

 found in 'Psyche,' vol. vii. p. 395, pi. 9 (1896). 



Amherst, Mass., U.S.A. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF FOUR NEW SPECIES OF DISONYCHA. 

 (COLEOPTERA PHYTOPHAGA, Fam. HALTICIDiE.) 



By Martin Jacoby, F.E.S. 



DiSONYCHA FLORIDANA, Sp. n. 



Head fulvous ; antennae (the basal joint excepted), the tibiae, tarsi, 

 and the breast black ; thorax impunctate, pale fulvous, margined with 

 flavous ; elvtra punctured near the suture with five moie or less distinct 

 longitudinal costas, pale fulvous, with a subsutural aud a submargmal 

 narrow ilavous stripe joiued at the apex. Length 5^ millim. 



Head impunctate, fulvous, the anterior portion paler, the frontal 

 elevations flat and but feebly raised, clypeus broad, labrum aud palpi 



