200 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol XII, July, 1958 
concept of the species but it was studied in situ 
and the details of the sternum and claspers 
could not be seen. It is possible that two 
species may be involved in this concept. 
male: Ocellar tubercle well developed. An- 
tennae 9-segmented, apical segment equal in 
length to the penultimate. Legs rather short 
and stout, femora moderately swollen on 
apical portions, tibiae slender. Wings brown- 
ish fumose, darker along anterior margin. 
Vein R 2+ 3 straight or nearly so, forming a 75° 
angle with R4+5. Petiole of cell Mi not over 
one-half longer than r-m cross vein. Cubital 
cell noticeably narrowed at apex, apex about 
one-half as long as r-m cross vein. Abdomen 
dark brown to black, not so densely pilose as 
in most species. The lobes of the ninth tergum 
are narrow and pointed, nearly two times 
longer than the sternum (Fig. 11 b). The 
claspers are short and broad, rather blunt at 
apices. A pair of sharp pointed accessory or- 
gans are present along sides of the aedeagus. 
The ninth sternum is about two times wider 
than long (Fig. 11*). 
Length: Body, 7. 0-8.0 mm.; wings, 6.5- 
7.0 mm. 
type locality: Sumatra. 
Type in the Museo Civico di Storia 
Naturale, Genova. 
I have studied the type and specimens from 
Sumatra, New Guinea, and Christmas Island, 
Indian Ocean; de Meijere recorded it from 
Java. 
Plecia forficula Edwards 
Fig. 12*, b 
Plecia forficula Edwards, 1928, Jour. Fed. Ma- 
lay States Mus. 14: 44, fig. 40. 
Similar to P. minor Edwards but larger and 
the genitalia are quite differently developed; 
the strongly forcipate ninth tergum will dif- 
ferentiate it. P. forficula Edwards is separated 
from forcipata Osten Sacken by the develop- 
ment of the claspers and sternal structures of 
the male genitalia as shown in Figures 12 a and 
11* and as pointed out in the above key. 
male: Head black. Antenna 9-segmented, 
counting the nipplelike tip. Ocelli situated on 
a strong tubercle. Rostrum short, not over 
three-fourths as long as antenna. Thorax 
chiefly opaque, mesonotum, scutellum, meta- 
notum, and lower portion of pleura rufous; 
upper half of pleura with brown to black dis- 
colorations. Legs black, segments slender; 
front tibiae not at all thickened, much nar- 
rower than femora. Wings light brown fumose, 
darker along costal margin. Vein R 2+3 rather 
straight, forming about a 75° angle with R 4+5 . 
Petiole of cell M 2 two times longer than r-m 
Fig. 12. Plecia forficula Edwards, a, Genitalia, ventral 
view; b, ninth tergum. 
