Mar., 1908.] New Species of Gnats. 7 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NINE NEW SPECIES OF 



GNATS. 



By Evelyn Groesbeeck Mitchell, 

 Washington, D. C. 



While investigating the early stages of the Chironomicke of the 

 District of Columbia, during the summer of 1905, the writer obtained 

 the first five of the new forms herewith described. While comparing 

 these with the specimens in the National Museum the last four species 

 were discovered in the museum collection. As these species are dif- 

 ferentiated among themselves and from the most nearly related species 

 ( C. pulchripeniiis (figs. 7, b ; 2) and C. tceniapcnnis (figs. 7,/; 5)) 

 chiefly by characters of wings and legs, it seems expedient to figure 

 these parts, in order that the new forms may be readily recognized. 

 The figures, except that of tceniapennis, are by the author from types. 

 The types collected by the author have been given to the National 

 Museum. I desire to thank the authorities of the U. S. National Mu- 

 seum for the privilege of comparing my specimens with the Museum 

 series and of describing the new species from that series. The de- 

 scriptions are published here by the sanction of the Museum authorities. 



Chironomus nephopterus, new species. 



Male. — Antennal hairs gray, quite dark on distal third of antenna; antenna] 

 joints dark brown except the first which is rather light ; occiput very light brown. 

 Mesothorax cream-color ; lateral vittae red-brown and fringed with deep cream hairs, 

 central stripe light brown ; cephalic part of pleura; almost white, rest tan-brown and 

 white ; scutellum creamy ; metanotum deep chocolate brown with mesal notch of 

 cream color at cephalic margin and extending in a hair-line down the meson ; 

 halteres white ; claspers and last five abdominal segments chestnut brown, shading 

 into black on their apical halves, apex of fourth segment tinged with faint brown, 

 rest of abdomen green, venter of abdomen like dorsum. Coxa white ; distal third of 

 femora chocolate brown, remainder creamy (fig. 6) ; tibiae of fore and hind legs 

 entirely dark brown, tibia of middle legs brown on proximal third shading to cream 

 with black line at apex ; tarsal joints shading from white on the first through deep 

 cream and tan to chocolate brown on the last joint; claws black. Wing (tig. 7, e) 

 clear with cinereous costal cell, tip dark for about one half the length of the lower 

 branch of the radius, the mark being blunt wedge-shaped with its tip between the 

 medius and the cephalic branch of the cubitus, a band crossing at the fork of the 

 cubitus and extending half way to the base of the wing on the caudal margin. 

 Length 3 mm. Length of wing 2' 4 ' mm. 



One specimen. Taken at Cabin John, Md., June 3. 



Type.— Male, Cat. No. 11022, U. S. N. M. 



