WTEOMTIA 51 



observation that they are omitted in all the early descriptions. We have conse- 

 quently been unable to place the species described by Theobald from South 

 America ; but this proves to be of less importance, since it is probable that the 

 majority of them are different species from any of ours. The species of 

 Wyeomyia are largely local and but few species possess an extended range. The 

 markings on the feet are usually on one side only and repeated observations are 

 required from many points of view before concluding that there is no white 

 marking present. The distribution of white on the feet is not infrequently 

 different in the two sexes. South American authors have concluded that these 

 characters are variable and have consequently recognized but few species. We 

 think this to be a wrong view and that careful study will reveal a large fauna in 

 the American tropics. 



The different species of this large genus exhibit considerable diversity in the 

 form of the scales on the wing-veins. Mr. Theobald has used this to divide the 

 genus Wyeomyia, his description of Dendromyia indicating that it was charac- 

 terized by broadly ovate scales with subtruncate apices. His original conception 

 of Wyeomyia was intended to include all the species with setae and without scales 

 upon the postnotum (Mon. Culicid., ii, 371, sixth paragraph) ; but before the 

 work appeared he discovered that setse were also present on the postnotum 

 of Sabethes (Mon. Culic, i, 97, footnote), so that he adds " The species described 

 here as Wyeomyias very closely resemble 2 Sabethes, but the wing scales are 

 never asymmetrical as in that genus" (Mon. Culic, ii, 268, note). Later he 

 restricted Wyeomyia to "wings with the veins with narrowish lateral vein 

 scales" (Mon. Culic, iii, 310), and described Dendromyia "the wings have 

 long, broad, dense Taeniorhynchics-like scales, some ending asymmetrically" 

 (Mon. Culic, iii, 313) . We take the type of Wyeomyia to be grayii Theobald ; 

 that of Dendromyia is Wyeomyia luteoventralis Theobald, according to indica- 

 tion of Blanchard. Unfortunately Theobald's conception of what constituted a 

 " broad " or " narrow " scale has undergone considerable modification during 

 the course of his studies. His original figure of Wyeomyia grayii (Mon. Culic, 

 ii, 370, fig. i) shows a typically narrow scale; likewise his figure of Dendromyia 

 ulocoma, the first species described in the new genus, may be conceded to repre- 

 sent a broad scale (Mon. Culic, iii, 314, fig. 175). But his figures of Dendro- 

 myia luteoventralis (Mon. Culic, iii, 318, fig. 177), Dendromyia mitchellii, 

 Dendromyia smithii, and Dendromyia oblita (Mon. Culic, iv, pp. 606, 607, 608, 

 609, and 613) can in no sense be said to represent broad scales, being entirely 

 typical of his original conception of Wyeomyia. This should be kept in mind 

 in any attempt to identify Theobald's descriptions. As a matter of fact, the 

 species of Wyeomyia do not divide sharply on the character of the wing-scales, 

 all sorts of intergrades existing, not only in the several species, but also on the 

 wings of the same species, so that it is necessary to specify accurately the par- 

 ticular area of the wing under observation; this, even admitting that these 

 scales are of generic value, which we deny. The scales can be used in the 

 separation of otherwise closely similar species, and we so use them in the 

 foUovnng. Any attempt, however, to divide the genus upon this character 

 must fail. 



While we have not found that the species can be associated into groups upon 

 the scale characters, nor upon markings and coloration, yet upon the characters 

 of the male genitalia and the larvae several distinct groups appear. These are 

 correlated with the habits. Unfortunately the early stages of many of the 

 species are unknown to us, and of others we possess no males ; but as far as the 

 present material goes, very distinct groups are indicated. The largest group 

 is the one inhabiting the bromelias, or rather there are two groups in these 



