Host/Early Stages. Asteraceae, recorded from 
Calendula , Encelia , Helianthus . Tithonia, Zinnia . 
Larva feeding in seed heads; puparium pale, straw 
colored, posterior spiracular processes widely 
separated, with ellipse of about 10 well-defined 
bulbs around strong central horn. 
Distribution. California, Florida; new records: 
Colorado, Larimer Co., Estes Park, 7,500 ft, 1 m. , 
21. VII. 61 (C. H. Mann, CNC) ; North Carolina, Macon 
Co., Highlands, Little Bear Pen, 1 m. , 5. VIII. 57 
(W. H. Richards, CNC); Chile, Cuba, Mexico, 
Trinidad. 
References. Frost, 1931b: 277; Spencer, 1981: 63. 
Gena narrow, 0.14-0.08 height of eye 14 
14 (13). Ocellar triangle black, mesonotum brilliantly 
shining blackish green M. heliotropii Spencer 
Synopsis. Small species, wing length 2. 2-2. 3 mm; 
frons not projecting above eye; 2 ors, 2 ori; gena 
narrow, about 0.14 height of eye, bare in both 
sexes; male genitalia with aedeagus as in figures 
26, 27. 
Host/Early Stages. Heliotropium leavenworthii . 
Larva internal stem borer; puparium whitish, pos- 
terior spiracles each with ellipse of 4 or 5 large 
bulbs around weak black horn, separated by almost 
3 times their own diameter. 
Distribution. Florida. 
Reference. Spencer and Stegmaier, 1973: 39. 
Ocellar triangle greenish blue, mesonotum strongly 
shining green, blue, or greenish blue 
M. ruelliae Spencer 
Synopsis. Wing length 1. 9-2.4 mm; frons not pro- 
jecting above eye; gena narrow, 0.08 height of 
eye; ocellar triangle broad, large; male genitalia 
with aedeagus as in figures 28, 29; hypandrium 
with long apodeme (fig. 30); epandrium with spines 
along inner margin (fig. 31). 
Host/Early Stages. Blechnum , Ruellia , Strobi- 
lanthes ( Acanthaceae) . Larva feeding in seed 
heads; puparium bright orange, posterior spiracles 
each with ellipse of 7 bulbs (fig. 32). 
Distribution. Florida; Bahamas; new record: Texas, 
Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park, Panther 
Junction, 3,500 ft, 1 m. , 14.V.59 (j. F. McAlpine, 
CNC) . 
References. Spencer, 1966d: 14; Spencer and 
Stegmaier, 1973: 47. 
15 (12). Mesonotum or abdomen black 16 
Mesonotum or abdomen greenish, bluish, or coppery — 17 
16 (15). Mesonotum and abdomen entirely black; frons strong- 
ly projecting above eye; orbital setulae all pro- 
clinate (fig. 33) M. inornata Spencer 
Synopsis. Large species, wing length 3. 1-3.5 mm; 
male genitalia with aedeagus as in figure 34. 
Host /Early Stages. Unknown. 
Distribution. Michigan; Canada. 
21 
