THAXTER. MONO(JKAPH OFTHK LABOI I.Hi:\I.\( I !.. 2S5 
The Blatticbe, which are the only hosts of Ilrrpomi/ces, arc common in buildings, cs|>eeially on vffttcr fronts 
and abound especially in tropical regions. Many species occur under logs an«l under bark and nn oft. n 
numerous in rubbish or under stones. The Croton Hug and the Cockroaches ;irc familiar household 
pests throughout the world, and all serve as hosts for members of thi intercsling genus. 
IIf.upomyces cHJ-roi'inu s Th;i\ter. Plate X Id. Bgs. 11 is. 
Proc. Am. Acad. Arts and Sci.. Vol. W.WIII. p. 12. Juno. ! 92. 
Male individual consisting of four superposed cells, hyaline, the distal (vll terminated b\ -i blackish 
projection similar to the small foot. The three distal cells, sometimes only the terminal one, usually 
producing slight outgrowths which bear the single, nearly erect, long, slender antlicridia direct! or may 
separate a cell which hears one or very rarely two such anthcridia; the latter nearly as lung a- the foiir- 
celled individual. Total length to tips of anthcridia 50-55 p. 
Female individual. Primary individual similar to the male, but stouter; terminated by a similar 
blackish projection. The fertile branch arising laterally from the subba al cell, growing down in the 
form of a slender filament variable in length, usually of two or three cells, enlarging abruptly to form the 
single secondary receptacle. Secondary receptacle pale dirty brownish yellow, consisting of a vertical 
series of cells partly double above, simple below; the cells thick-walled, the long (transvi ■ ) «\< s dire, ted 
obliquely upward and outward, about five to fifteen in number, their points of contact with the host 
surrounded by a slightly blackened irregular foot-like baustorial margin, and giving rise to single impl< 
or very rarely branched, haustoria which penetrate the wall of the spine at right angh to its surfan 
the cells all sterile with the exception of the proximal one from which ari* tin- solitary, marly erect 
perithecium. Perithecium relatively large, rather stout; the ; ogerous portion large, slightly infli d. 
longer than the outwardly curved distal portion, which tapers to the bluntly pointed unn dined apt .; 
the tip bent abruptly outward. Spores 30-35 X 3 pu Pcritheeia !2o 185 X -4* ju Total It ngth of 
]>rimary individual 35-40 p. Secondary receptacle 35-75 X 22 p. 
On spines of legs, antennas and anal appendages of PerifUmeta sp., Zanzibar, Africa; Mus. Comp. 
Zool. On Periplaveta sp., Mauritius; Mus. Comp. Zool., No. 1357. 
This species, which is taken as the type of the genus, appears to be perhaps its simplest form, 
and is distinguished by its solitary perithecium, the tip of which is unarmed and benl outward, as well 
as by its vertically developed secondary receptacle. It has not been observed on any other of the many 
individuals examined of its supposedly cosmopolitan host. Its general habit . A «-ly approached by 
cdnetophilous forms of H. PeriplanrUr (fig. 8), but the pcriil.cci;, arc quite different m the two specs. 
Herpomyces Periplanet^ Thaxter. Plate \U, figs. 6 13. 
Proc. Am. Acad. Arts and Sci., Vol. XXXVIII, p. 13. June. 1902. 
Very variable according to the host and the position of growth. .,..,, , • 
Male individual consisting of four superposed cells, the two upper, in simpler mdmdual producing 
one or two anthcridia which are cither sessile or borne on a single stalk-cell: m more highly J™**** 
individuals the two distal cells producing short branch, which may bear sewral antnendia direcUy, or 
on secondary branchlets, some of which appear to be occasionally sterile; the u ,1 number of anth.nd 
sometimes six or more. Greatest length of well-developed forms, to t.,.s of Mflfcnd.a, JO * of small 
specimens GO //. 
Female individual, hyaline or nearly so. 
m i 
urmounte 
i 
female indivtauai, nvanne or neariy ou. xn*i«* v 1 m , , _. ., ,,,•.*,, 
cell,, the uppermct often a<v,„ m C.ical, cn.ling in a nmunal >,.!»«. pro,,;,. ,,.«! h n, - ' 
, ha,,,,,ns," black projection laterally: the snbba.sal cdl retina, several -» j£™"£^ ' 
cell a ™»1, „™. rii in . sinrie branch from which is develop,.! .he very vanable , con.la > n , ■>. ■ 
Secondary receptacle: 
perposed 
con 
i a < 
bubk row, otherwise similar 
pen 
