8 MISC. PUBLICATION 4 2 4, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



sented so as to show the limits observed in the material examined. 

 When many examples of a species have been studied, the limits recorded 

 should cover satisfactorily the range of variation expected in that 

 species. On the other hand. where onh a few specimens have been 

 studied, it may be expected that the quantitative limits here presented 

 will be widened as additional material is examined. 



The drawings used in this paper present structural details of use 

 for the recognition of species. Divided drawings show the dorsal 

 surface on the right, and the ventral on the left. Minute pores, sub- 

 marginal setae, and tubular ducts usually are omitted from the outline 

 Bgures. Where the enlargement of a structure is not given in the 

 explanation of figures, it lies within the range of 1,100 to 1.500 times. 

 The photographs are enlarged approximately 10 times. 



SPECIES GROUPS 



The genus Asteroleccmiwm comprises an extremely homogeneous 

 array oi species. Nevertheless, some species fall into definite groups, 

 and others stand alone Structures of the nymphal and adult males 

 do not appear suggestive of grouping within the genus, and those of 

 the second-stage bisects and third-stage males seem indicative 1 only of 

 broad specific relation-hips. Therefore, species segregation is based 

 on structures of the adult females and larvae. In some cases groups 

 definable on the basis of morphological characters are also set apart 

 by indicated hosl preferences or geographical distribution. Since a 

 natural grouping usually is not followed in the key-, and since only 

 the most closely related species are discussed and contrasted in the 

 descriptions, it seems desirable to define these groups, and to point out 

 the zoogeographical regions inhabited by them. Claim is not made 

 for complete accuracy in these assignments because additional collect- 

 ing and study are accessary before the relationships and the native 

 habitats of some species can be known with even approximate cer- 

 tainty. The order in which the groups are given is arbitrary. Only 

 species studied by the writer are included and, with two exceptions, 

 the distribution shown is based only on record- Listed in this paper. 



Group I (abiectum, acutulum^ amboinae, bambusae, bambusicola, 

 biwnetae, captiosum, caudatum, ceriferwn ceriferwm^ chdnae, circu- 

 lare, ooronatvm, deHcatwm, disiunctwm^ elongatum^ exigwwm^ florwm : 

 fusiim, gemmae, herrmphaericum, largum, louyidum, longum, mmuii, 

 miliaria rrdliaris, miliaria robustv/m^ mimieum, rmnuActiktm, rrdn- 

 utum, notabile, oblongum, ordinariwm^ pafrowm^ pemcUlatum, pro- 

 boscidis, pseudolanceolatum, pseudomUiaris^ pusilfotm, radiatum, 

 rubrocomatvm, sasae, scirrosis, simplex, solenophoroides, sparus, sub- 

 dolum, udagamae, vuLgatre). — Known to occur only on Bambuseae. 

 The natural distribution of some of these species must be inferred 

 since some of them are now established in each of the six major 

 zoogeographical regions. Regardless of their present-day distribu- 

 tion, however, all of them probably are indigenous to the Oriental 

 Region. 



Adult female characterized by the presence of dorsal tubes (restricted to 

 this group), an interrupted row of submarginal setae, and a beak without 

 setae. Larva (with one exception) characterized by absence of a minute seta 

 close to each of the posterior 2 or 3 pairs of marginal 8-shaped pores; sixtb 

 antennal segment having 2 long, 2 stout, and 2 or 3 fairly stout setae; coxa 

 usually with 4 setae, femur usually with 3, and tarsus usually with 3. 



