NEW MOTH-FLIES (PSYCHODID^) BRED FROM BROME-LIACE^ AND OTHER PLANTS. By Frederick Knab, Custodian of Diptera, United States Natioial Museum. While on an entomological investigation in southern Mexico the writer gave some attention to the inhabitants of the epiphytic Brome-liacese, which are so characteristic a feature of our American tropics. Dipterous larvae were present in the water at the leaf bases of the plants in considerable numbers and variety, and among them those of Psychodidffi. These psychodid larvae were dark in color and had a rather long breathing tube, by which they suspended themselves from the surface film in the manner of culicid larvae. Theii' move-ments were slow, and when disturbed they sank to the bottom. The pupae are free swimming, like those of Culicidse, but not very active. The larvae proved difficult to rear, but several were brought through to imago. Correspondence with Dr. J. H. Pazos, of Cuba, and Mr. A. H. Jennmgs, then in Panama, brought about the rearmg of addi-tional species by these gentlemen. The species all proved to be unknown, as was to be expected, and are described herewith. No doubt other species peculiar to the water of Bromeliacese exist, and still others in similar habitats; in fact, one from a plant of another family is included in the follo\\dng. In the descriptions I have used the generic name Psychoda in the broadest sense, fully realizing that the species are not typical. It would have been easy to create new genera for them, but I prefer to await a more complete elucidation of the group. I can only indorse the remarks of Mr. Brunetti on this subject.^ In the terminology of the whig venation I have adopted that of this author as logical and the most convenient. The scale vestiture of the body and wings, in the forms here described, is long and hau-like, and by most authors would be termed hah-s. PSYCHODA AMPLIPENNA, new species. Male. — Dark, densely clothed with long black vestiture; antennas pale; wings marked mth white. Antenna long, nearly as long as the body, pale, the nodes globose, brownish luteous, with dense whorls 1 Fauna of British India, Diptera Nematocera, 1912, p. 198. Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 46— No. 2015. 103
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