200 
Psyche 
[Vol. 93 
ranging from three to six, with the basal spine in some extending to 
the end of the paramere; and within a single series (Province of 
Quebec, Wacouno R., n. Sept. lies, 10 Aug. 1973, ROM) all 
conditions from three to six are represented. 
No precise diagnosis was offered for the female by Banks, but 
only the general characters of rather short apical lobes (Banks’ 
sheath of the ovipositor) and absence of a basal ledge on segment X, 
and a broad median vulval lobe (Fig. 3). Our sample of females 
from eastern populations comprises only six specimens (Ont., P.Q., 
N.H., Mich.), but genitalic structures differ considerably among 
them: shape of the vulval lobes, and on segment X, the length and 
taper of the apical lobes and development of the basolateral ledge. 
These variations concern the same characters proposed by Banks 
for diagnosis of the western species of Onocosmoecus, and we find 
no other basis for identification of O. quadrinotatus as a separate 
species. 
O. occidentis (Banks). We examined the holotype male (Wal- 
lace, Idaho, 1 October) in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 
Diagnosis was based solely on genitalic characters. In the male the 
internal branch of segment X (Banks’ superior plate) was said to be 
broadened toward the base and to have a median separation extend- 
ing to the basal fourth; our examination of the holotype reveals no 
distinctive broadening in the shape of these combined internal 
branches and the median separation extends no more than half the 
length, which is generally characteristic of males of the unicolor 
complex. Spines of each paramere are four in number as stated, but 
the arrangement attributed to them holds true only for one para- 
mere of the holotype, spines of the other being quite different. The 
female was distinguished by characters of segment X — short apical 
lobes with slightly divergent tips and lacking the basolateral tooth 
or ledge; over the range of characters in O. unicolor s.L. none of 
these characters is unique as described, and we find nothing that 
would serve to distinguish this species. 
O. alascensis (Banks). We have examined the holotype male (1 
Aug. 1917) and single male paratype (29 July 1917), both from 
Iditarod, Alaska, from the collection of the Museum of Compara- 
tive Zoology. Among the diagnostic characters proposed by Banks 
(1943) was four spines on the parameres, which the holotype has, 
but the paratype has three and five spines respectively on the two 
