380 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. VII, July, 1953 
The pupa of U. quadrimaculata is very much 
like that of U. nigerrima. Penn (1949: 30) 
separated the two species on hair lO-II, simple 
in U. quadrimaculata^ and 3,4b inf/, nigerrima. 
From a study of a series of U. quadrimaculata, 
this should be amended to 2b (1-3) for this 
species. Additional differences for U. quad- 
rimacidata are as follows: 2-C 2b, 1(1-3) in- 
stead of 3b; 4-C single (1-2) instead of 2-3f; 
5-C 2, 3b instead of 4b; apparently fewer 
branches on abdominal hairs 1 and 3. 
Two ^ other species from New Guinea are 
closely related to U. quadrimaculata. U. papua 
Brug, 1924, has a pupa with trumpets and 
paddles conforming to the type found in U. 
quadrimaculata. U. diagonalis Brug, 1934, has 
a larva with the typical features of the head, 
antenna, thorax, and abdomen found in U. 
quadrimaculata, including the dorsal connec- 
tion of the comb plates. The figures of the 
male genitalia (Brug, 1934: 511) indicate the 
same type of mesosome. It is interesting to 
note that the characteristic dark diagonal in- 
tegumentary pleural line of this species is 
strongly developed in specimens of U. quad- 
rmaculata bred from taro. 
Uranotaenia obscura Edwards, 1915, from 
Borneo and Singapore, has a very similar larva 
(Edwards and Given, 1928: 338-339) and un- 
doubtedly belongs to the same group. U. 
colocasiae Edwards, 1928, from Eiji shows re- 
semblance to this group in the larval stage 
also and may be related, but in the absence 
of specimens I cannot be positive. U. painei 
Edwards, 1935, from Fiji according to Ed- 
wards (1935: 128) is very much like U. obscura, 
U. papua, and U. colocasiae in the adult stage, 
but its larva is entirely different from' all these 
and shows features of typical Uranotaenia. 
The unornamented Uranotaenia of the Ori- 
ental region form a complex group of poly- 
phyletic origin as shown by the different types 
of larvae. As several species are unknown in 
the immature stages and the available larval 
descriptions are not sufficiently detailed, and 
as it appears that superficially similar larvae 
are developed in similar habitats, it is im- 
possible at the present to determine the rela- 
tionship of the several species of this complex 
that are found in the Pacific area and to place 
U. quadrimaculata and related species in the 
natural order. 
Biology 
Uranotaenia quadrimaculata utilizes for 
breeding small water collections in living 
plants and dead plant material as well as va- 
rious types of artificial containers. It is ex- 
tremely common in leaf axils of taro {Colocasia 
sp. and Alocasia sp.) where it is preyed upon 
by Tripteroides (Rachisoura) mathesoni Belkin, 
1950. It has also been found less commonly 
in tree holes in association with the usual tree 
hole breeders. The greatest number of indi- 
viduals is produced from breeding in coconut 
shells, coconut spathes, and large leaves fallen 
on the ground. A few collections were made 
in fallen bamboo and in tree stumps. All sorts 
of artificial containers are also very favorable 
breeding grounds for this species. It has been 
recorded from tin cans, steel helmets, fire 
barrels, and cardboard containers. In all such 
situations it is preyed upon by Tripteroides 
(Rachisoura) stonei Belkin, 1950, which does 
not seem to be as effective a check as T. 
mathesoni in taro. I have two records of U. 
quadrimaculata apparently breeding in ground 
pools in a swampy jungle area and in road | 
ruts. In both cases the larvae were collected i 
following floods so it is very probable that j 
they were washed out of their normal breeding j 
places, such as coconuts or leaves. ' 
U, quadrimaculata appears to prefer fairly !| 
fresh water in its breeding places. Only oc- j| 
casionally has it been found in thick, ferment- ' 
ing coconut water, such as is preferred by j 
Armigeres. A moderate amount of organic 
matter is usually present in the majority of '' 
its breeding places, except in taro leaf axils. , 
The larvae of U. quadrimaculata bear no j 
resemblance whatever to the typical Urano- ' 
taenia and most closely resemble species of 
Armigeres with which they are occasionally 
associated in coconuts. They behave like Ar- I 
