76 General Notes. [January, i 
come well differentiated. The pamphlet quotes in a postscript 
the characters which Mr. Keferstein has found variable and there- 
fore not of specific value in the genus. These include the discal 
spots on upper side of primaries and under side of secondaries, 
the submarginal series of spots on under side of primaries and 
the “ mealy spot.” If we add coloration within limits, and forma 
wing, as we are justified in doing, we must evidently depend on 
ay es Pete teen though less noticeable structure of the body. 
Hasits oF BLAPS AND EmBaPHion.—Among the more recent 
introductions from the Old World are two species of the Tene- 
brionid genus Blaps! Both species occur in Europe abundantly 
in stables, warehouses, ditty cellars, etc., and are so rarely met 
with away from such buildings that they may properly be 
included among the numerous “domestic” insects to which 
the family Tenebrionidæ furnishes a not inconsiderable contin- 
gent.. The North American representatives of Blaps are the 
numerous species of Eleodes which form the most conspicuous 
feature of the Coleopterous fauna of the Central and Pacific region 
of our continent. Some of the species occur in an increas 
number of individuals but I am not aware that any species B®” 
thus far any tendency to acquire habits similar to those of the 
two Blaps mentioned above. Mr. Lawrence Bruner informs me 
however, that another large Tenebrionid, Embaphion muricahih 
Say, is at present met with in large numbers in cellars in Nebrass 
and that it is much more frequent in such places than outdoof 
It would thus appear that this Embaphion flourishes more 10 
vicinity of human habitations than in its native haunts, and 
fact is the more interesting that the species belongs to the sm 
number of native American species which are habitually met 
in our houses, the large majority of such domestic Coleop™ 
being either European forms or at least cosmopolitan species 
uncertain origin.—£, A. Schwarz, Washington, D. n 
Larva HABITS oF THE Diprerous FAMILY DEXIDÆ.— 
Fr. Brauer has recently made some interesting observations 
the entomography of Hirmoneura obscura (Sitzungsber. d. SA 
Akad. d. Wiss. txxxvm, pp. 865-75) which have incidentally 
to the discovery of two other Dipterous parasites of the Rhi i 
gus larva and belonging to the family Dexidæ, of which litt 
thus far been known. A small parasitic larva produc T 
rustica Fall, while another larger one was found within the 3 
men of the Rhizotrogus larva adjacent to the colon of the: 
tinal canal. It was encased in a membraneous sac closely 1® 
bling the colon and which, tapering posteriorly, ended 1n 4° 
xi 
ER 
i : ae 
The specimens I siw and which were said to be found in Virginia were rf 
fatidica. Of the second species, B, mortisaga, I have not yet seen undoubted * 
c imens. 
