HAVE WE MORE THAN ONE SPECIES OF 
BLISSUS IN NORTH AMERICA? 
F. M. WEBSTER. 
Ir is a fact, well known among entomologists, that the 
original description of Alissus leucopterus Say was drawn up 
from a single specimen taken on the eastern shore of Virginia. 
This was, therefore, probably a macropterous individual belong- 
ing to the maritime race that inhabited the Atlantic coast. It 
was not until long after that the brachypterous form was dis- 
covered, and attention was first directed thereto by Dr. Asa 
Fitch in his second report on the insects of the state of New 
York, and it was figured by Riley in Tke American Entomologist, 
Vol. I, p. 174, May, 1869, Dr. Fitch designating it as variety 
apterus. The infrequency with which this brachypterous form 
has been observed in the past is due to its almost universally 
secluded habits, as will be explained later. 
Say’s description, in which he named the insect Lygeus 
leucopterus, appeared in 1831, and in 1850 Dr. William Le 
Baron, afterwards state entomologist of Illinois, having over- 
looked Say’s description, again described the species as Rhypa- 
vochromus devastator, the description, this time, having been 
based on material secured in Illinois, where the species was at 
that time excessively abundant. 
According to Professor Cockerell there appeared in 1893, in 
Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., Vol. XX XVIII, two additional descrip- 
tions, namely, B. Airtus, from North America, and B. pulchellus, 
from Central and South America, both by Montandon. As 
the specimens recorded from the islands of Granada and St. 
Vincent by Uhler, and which were collected by Mr. H. H. 
Smith, are said to be of larger size and more variable than 
leucopterus and with fully developed wings, it would seem that 
Professor Cockerell may be right in thinking that these were, 
perhaps, Montandon’s pulchellus. Just what his Airtus may 
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