The adult stage of Drunella allegheniensis (Traver) is described for the first time. Characters separating it from the closely related D. tuberculata (Morgan) are summarized, and the existing taxonomic key to the group is modified to include D. allegheniensis. Other species of Ephemeroptera associated with D. allegheniensis are reported along with observations on its biology.

The following notes are intended to throw further light on the affinities of certain little-known species, which I have lately examined:-

(1.) Chionaspis major, Ckll.—Found on Heliotrope at Antigua by Mr. C. A. Barber. The ♀ resembles that of Diaspis lanatus, but may be distinguished from it without difficulty.

The hypothetical ancestor of the Aphididae was probably a large generalized form, always winged, both sexes occurring in each generation, and with only a few generations each year. Migration would be lacking, and the development of the aphid ancestor would probably be tied up with one of the primitive types of plants occurring in that early period.

♀.—Length, 4.5 mm. Head, thorax and abdomen above brownish-yellow; collar above, the middle mesothoracic lobe anteriorly, the lateral lobes and the metathorax, fuscous or blackish; head beneath mouth parts, pronotum, thorax at sides and beneath, tegulæ, legs and venter, white; the tarsi more or less and the femora toward apex with a decided yellowish tinge; stemmaticum dusky, the ocelli pale; occiput with two dusky spots. Antennæ 48-jointed, slender, much longer than the body, the scape and pedicel somewhat dusky, the flagellum pale brownish-yellow. Mesonotum smooth, trilobed, the metanotum shagreened. Wings hyaline; the costa, stigma, poststigmatal and basal veins pale yellowish, the other veins dusky; second abscissa of radius about three times as long as the first, the second submarginal cell, therefore, long, longer than the first and almost as long as the third Abdomen as long or possibly a little longer than the head and thorax united. Segments 1–3 coarsely longitudinally striated, the following almost smooth, but opaque; the first segment is scarcely as long as the second and third united, the third about half the length of the second, the fourth and following shorter, subequal; ovipositor distinctly exserted, scarcely as long as the basal joint of hind tarsi, the tip black. Type, No. 3648, U. S. N. M.

The role of vision in the flight initiation sequence of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was assessed by comparing the behavioral sequences and frequencies of takeoffs of untethered and tethered beetles with and without vision. Results showed that vision plays a critical role in the successful completion of the launch and the maintenance of lift for the adult Colorado potato beetle. The sequence was interrupted immediately before or during the lifting of the mesothoracic legs or before the launch for most blind beetles. Liftoffs of untethered beetles over a 1-h period in a flight chamber were reduced significantly, by 77%, in blind beetles compared with normal beetles. In addition, the preponderance of upward (dispersal) flights following successful liftoffs of normal beetles was replaced by a preponderance of downward (short) flights for blind beetles. Blind beetles that did not have to launch themselves because they were tethered initiated flight as frequently as tethered normal Colorado potato beetles. The duration and repeatability of flights initiated by tethered blind Colorado potato beetles were also similar to those of flights initiated by tethered normal Colorado potato beetles in a stationary environment. Together, the results of the tests with untethered and tethered beetles indicate that vision is a key factor during flight launching and for flight continuation.

Microctonus Agilis.N. sp–♂. Piceous, shining; clypeus and mandibles testaceous; palpi whitish; antennæ longer than head and thorax, slender, fuscous, basal third pale; pleura beneath, rufo-piceous; tegulæ whitish; wings hyaline, iridescent; nervures and stigma fuscous, the latter large, lanceolate; marginal cell longer than stigma, lanceolate; legs, ineluding coxæ, pale honey-yellow, extreme tips of posterior tibiæ dusky; abdomen smooth, shining, depressed, first segment tinged with rufo-piceous, gradually dilated to apex. Length .10 inch.

The rewarding orchid, Cremastra appendiculata (Orchidaceae), has a strong floral scent and is pollinated by long-tongued bumble bee queens (Bombus diversus tersatus Smith; Hymenoptera: Apidae). The response of queens of B. diversus tersatus to the scent of C. appendiculata was investigated using a gas chromatography–electroantennographic detector system and Y-tube olfactometer. Gas chromatography–electroantennographic detector analysis of flower extracts showed that seven compounds (nerol, methyl decanoate, methyl dodecanoate, methyl tetradecanoate, methyl hexadecanoate, ethyl dodecanoate, and ethyl tetradecanoate) elicited antennal responses from B. diversus tersatus queens. Further, Y-tube olfactometer test results showed that queens significantly preferred both the flower extracts and synthetic mixture of seven EAD active compounds compared with pentane (a solvent control). These results suggest that floral scents play an important role in attracting queens and promote successful pollination.

Most systematists occasionally come upon abnormal specimens of species belonging to the groups they study. Such specimens, depending on the nature of the abnormality, may be of only psssing interest as curiosities, or may be considered of sufficient importance to report in the literature.

Several authors have recorded cases of teratology in the fleas, most of the cases concerning duplication of an organ (usually the spermatheca of the female). castration of the male by nematodes, or variability in the numbers of ctenidial spines. Smit (1949) reviewed the scant literature and later published several additional papers on monstrosities in Siphonaptera.

The species here described somewhat superficially resembles Staphylinus cinnamopterus Grav., yet appears distinct and to be hitherto uncharacterized. In admiration of Professor J. H. McGregor of Columbia University, and in appreciation of kindnesses tendered me, I propose to name this new form:

Staphylinus macgregori n. sp.

Habitus nearly as in cinnamopterus but larger in size and rather more robust; piceous, the elytra fusco-ferrugineus, the legs fulvo-ferrugineus ; pubescence inclined, on the head, thorax, and elytra of a rusty hue and with few erect, brown setae, on abdomen fusco-piceous pubescence intermixing with fewer rusty-colored hairs and an abundance of dark setae; anterior tarsi broadly dilated in both sexes ; head slightly narrower than prothorax, widest at basal fourth thence gradually narrowing anteriorly, hind angles obtusely prominent, punctures round and ocellate throughout, close-set but clearly separated by shining interspaces, sparser anteriorly; mandibles longer and more slender than in cinnamopterus, the two inner teeth much less prominent and more poorly developed; antennae piceous to fuscopiceous, a third longer than head; prothorax but slightly wider than head, truncate at apex, rounded at base, punctures ocellate, more elongate at the sides than those of head and somewhat larger, smaller and more closely set than in cinnamopterus but separated by shining interspaces, the median line evident, polished, but very narrow throughout, in places ill-defined or obliterated; scutellum velvety black; elytra fusco-ferrugineus, longer than wide, very finely but strongly and densely punctate, clothed with a decurved rusty-colored pubescence similar to that of head and thorax but more dense; abdomen obscurely fulvous at tip, piceous, coriaceo-reticulate and very sparsely and finely punctate at sides, with median velvety fuliginous spots suffering intermixture of short cinereous hairs at the sides; under surface of abdomen clothed with sparse, long, depressed, fuscs-piceous pubescence, coriaceo-reticulate, punctures very fine and sparse, slightly less sparsely distributed at sides of segments, the male fifth ventral with a very broad circular and feeble sinuation medially, the male sixth ventral obscurely fulvous at tip and with a broad, rounded, median emargination about one half as deep as long, fifth ventral of female truncate, sixth female ventral rounded evenly and fulvous. Length ( ) 10.0-12.7 mm.; width 3.0-3.3 mm.

Members of the pulcher–undulatus species group of Hydroporus Clairville (sensu Fall 1923) were rearranged as follows by Wolfe and Matta (1981): (1) H. pulcher LeConte and 12 other species (each with a bifurcate aedeagal apex) were assigned to the subgenus Heterosternuta E. Strand; (2) H. pilatei Fall and H. triangularis Fall were revised and assigned to a new genus, Falloporus; (3) and the remaining approximately 35 species were placed in the subgenus Neoporus Guignot.

A Palearctic species, Cnephasia stephensiana (Doubleday), was first collected in Nova Scotia in 1954 and has since been found in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and near Ottawa, Ontario. C. stephensiana is compared with the introduced C. interjectana (Haworth) which was found first in Newfoundland in 1915.

About three years ago I commenced the study of the “featherwings,” with the intention of preparing at some future time a monograph of the North American species of this family. While adhering to my original intention, I have decided to so far modify it as to publish in advance certain new species which have accumulated on my hands, and I am induced to this course the more because it may be a considerable time before sufficient material will have been obtained to justify me in publishing my general paper.

In answer to Dr. Butler's comments (Can. Ent. XXXI., p. 19) upon my revision of the species of Euchloé (Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., X., pp. 235-248), I could state that Dr. Butler may possibly be right in considering creusa (var. elsa), hyantis and lotta seasonal forms of ausonides, but with the present knowledge it is not possible to place them so, and for this reason I concluded it would be best to allow the species to remain distinct until more light could be obtained on the subject. At any rate I was certain that what we had labeled in our collections as creusa was not Doubleday and Hewitson's species, which Dr. Butler definitely asserts is my var. elsa.