226 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IX, April, 1955 
hibir a sexual character not formerly recog- 
nized in the presence of a pair of elongate 
transverse submedian dark spots on abdom- 
inal tergites 2-4. The length and shape of the 
trumpet appear to be reliable taxonomic char- 
acters as well as the development of abdom- 
inal hairs 1, 2 and 5 on some segments. On 
the other hand the length and shape of the 
paddle, but not its marginal fringe, are ex- 
tremely variable in melanesiensis and are un- 
doubtedly correlated with the development 
of the siphon, an unreliable character in the 
larva. 
Adult Characters 
A character not formerly noted for this 
complex, or for any Tripter aides , to my knowl- 
edge, is the development of a few outstanding 
long, thin, somewhat flattened hairlike scales 
or scalelike bristles on the midline of the 
mesonotum just in front of the prescutellar 
space. These may represent highly modified 
posterior acrostichal bristles. Apparently their 
presence is dependent upon the vigor of the 
individual since they have been noted only 
on larger specimens of all the species ex- 
amined. 
Except for rotumana , no striking diagnostic 
characters have been found in the complex. 
The male genitalia show considerable varia- 
tion in the clasper and in the number of 
bristles on the basal lobe of the sidepiece and 
lobe of the ninth tergite. None of these varia- 
tions appear to be correlated with larval char- 
acters. T. caledonica appears to be unique in 
the development of a few broad dark scales 
in the supraalar area. A great deal of variation 
was noted in the thoracic chaetotaxy, parti- 
cularly in the development of dorsocentrals, 
but this was not studied in detail. The dis- 
tribution and amount of light scaling on the 
head, thorax and abdomen show differences 
that appear to be correlated with geographical 
distribution as noted under melanesiensis . Be- 
fore these characters can be used for diagnosis 
much more and better material must be 
accumulated. 
Keys to Species 
1. ADULTS (MALES AND FEMALES) 
1. Abdominal tergites with basal lateral light 
spots; lower sternopleural bristles absent 
. . T. rotumana (Edwards) 
Abdominal tergites entirely dark or with 
apical light bands or apicolateral light 
spots; lower sternopleural bristles present 
2 
2. Supraalar area with several broad, apically 
rounded dark scales 
T. caledonica (Edwards) 
Supraalar area with only narrow, pointed 
dark scales T. melanesiensis n. sp. 
T. folicola n. sp. 
2. PUPAE 
1. Trumpet narrow, parallel sided; trumpet 
index 4 or more. . . T. rotumana (Edwards) 
Trumpet expanded distad; trumpet index 
3 or less 2 
2. Trumpet width at basal 0.1 about 0.25 of 
width at middle; paddle margins with sev- 
eral dorsal rows of distinct spicules 
T. caledonica (Edwards) 
Trumpet width at basal 0.1 usually 0.5 or 
more of width at middle; paddle margins 
with spicules absent or few and scattered . 3 
3. Hairs 5 -IV- VI usually double; pinna about 
0.30 of trumpet length. . T. folicola n. sp. 
Hairs 5-IV-VI usually single; pinna about 
0.15 to 0.20 of trumpet length 
T. melanesiensis n. sp. | 
3. LARVAE 
1. Hairs 0-II-VII, 2-I-VII minute, single; 
dorsum of thorax and abdomen without 
distinct stellate hairs . 
T. caledonica (Edwards) 
Hairs 0-II-VII, 2-I-VII large, stellate; dor- 
sum of thorax and abdomen with distinct 
stellate hairs 2 
