DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR

BULLETIN

UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

No. 93

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1892

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

J. W. POWELL, DIRECTOR

SOME INSECTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

FLORISSANT, COLORADO

AND OTHER POINTS IN THE

TERTIARIES OF COLORADO AND UTAH

SAMUEL HUBBAED SOUDDEE

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1892

CONTENTS.

Page.

Letter of transmittal ....................................................... 9

Introduction................................................................ 11

Genera, and species.......................................................... 12

Neuroptera Odonata ............... s ................................... 12

Trichocneniis Selys ................................................. 12

Tricliocnemis alien a............................................. 12

Stonogomplms, gen. nov ............................................ 13

Stenogomphns cnrletoiii......................................... 14

Horn iptera CicadicL-B .................................................... 15

Cicada Linn6 ....................................................... 15

Cicada gran/liosn, ............................................... 15

Coleoptera Byrrhidse .................................................. 16

Nosotetocns, gen. nov............................................... 16

Nosotetocns nia.rcovi ............................................ 17

Coleoptera Caraliid<re .................................................. 17

Carabites Heer...................................................... 17

Carabites exanimna .............................................' 17

Diptera OEstficlaj ...................................................... 18

Paltcstrus, gen. nov................................................. 18

Palccstrns oligocenvig............................................ 19

Diptera Mycetophilidte ............. T .................................. 19

Mycetopnaatinaj........................................ .............. 19

Mycetopbaetus, gen. nov............................................. 20

My cetoplitetus interrnedi us...................................... 20

Lepi doptera Nympbalidte .............................................. 20

LibytlieiniB........................................................... 20

Barbarothea, gen. nov .............................................. 21

B.irbarotbea florissanti......................'.................... 23

Hymenoptera Teutbrediuidie .......................................... 24

Atocns; gen. nov.................................................. 24

Atocus defessus................................................. 25

ILLUSTRATIONS

Plate I, Fig. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Plate II, Fig. 1.

2,3.

4.

5, 6. 

Plate III, Figs. 1-5.

Stenogomplms carletoni... 

Trichocnemis aliena.......

Cicada graudiosa..........

Carabites exaiiimns ........

Atocus clefessus ...........

Palcestrus oligocenus......

Nosotetocus marcovi ......

Palcestrus oligocenus.......

Mycetophmtns iutennediiis 

Barbarothea florissaiiti ....

Pago. 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

32 

32 

32 

32 

34

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

DIVISION OF FOSSIL INSECTS,

Cambridge, Mass., July 24, 1891.

SIR : I send herewith a paper upon Tertiary insects for publication 

as a bulletin of the Survey. The reasons for forwarding it will be found 

in the brief introductory remarks. 

Very respectfully,

SAMUEL H. SCUDDER,

Paleontologist. 

Hon. J. W. POWELL,

Director.

9

SOME INSECTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST FROM FLORISSANT AND 

OTHER POINTS IN THE TERTIARIES OF COLORADO AND UTAH.

By SAMUEL H. SOITDDER.

INTRODUCTION.

The following pages describe the characteristics of a few Oligocene 

insects of different orders which, from, some peculiarity, have been 

thought worthy of special study out of serial course, and which would 

have long to remain unnoticed if they were to await treatment with 

their immediate allies. Several, indeed, belong to groups already 

reported on in my Tertiary Insects and elsewhere, and are really on that 

account the more worthy of notice, as their relation to those already 

made known can be discussed. Thus the Trichocneinis is interesting 

as the representative of a type hitherto known, both in the present and 

past epochs as exclusively gerontogeic; the Stenogomphus as the first 

of the Gornphina found fossil in this country; the Cicada not only for 

its great size, but for its being the first member of its family known 

from American rocks, and it Avas remarked in my Tertiary Insects 

(p. 239) as a singular thing that we should have found none; the butterfly is of exceptional interest as belonging "to a waning type which 

must have flourished remarkably in Oligocene times if the figures drawn 

from the few known fossil butterflies are to be regarded as having any 

weight at all. These all belong to groups already elaborated. The 

two Coleoptera are interesting, one from its suggestion .of the need of 

reexaminatiou of allied European Tertiary forms, the other from its 

remarkable structure. The two Diptera surprise us by their departure 

from the modern types to which they are most nearly allied, and the 

existence of one of them, proves that bot-flies awaited the appearance 

on the globe of their most cherished victims among the ruminants. 

And finally the Hymenopteron described below, besides its curious 

alliance to oriental forms, well illustrates how perfectly preserved are 

the numerous and varied TenthredinidjB entombed at Florissant, 

whereas all previously described fossils of this family have been exceedingly imperfect and unsatisfactory.

11
GENERA AND SPECIES.

NEUROPTERA ODONATA. 

TBICHOCNEMIS Selys.

TRICIIOCNEMIS ALIENA. 

PI. 1, fig. 2.

Nearly allied to the recent T. diciyma Selys, but easily distinguished 

from it by the origin of the subnodal, which arises in the nodus itself, 

from the number of postcubitals, which is eleven instead of seventeen, 

and from the color of the pterostigina, which is pallid, heavily margined with blackish brown.

Length, 20 millimeters.

The interest attaching to this species is its close alliance to species 

fonnd in the East Indies and its belonging to a legion, Platycnemis, 

which is now found only in the Old World, most of its members, indeed, 

in the tropics. That it belongs in this legion is plain from the 

origin of the median and subnodal sectors, the former at a point 

immediately before the nodns (bending strongly upward at its base), 

from the elongated and regular quadrilateral, from the short pterostigma which surmounts parts of two cellules, but is only equal in length 

to one, from the entire absence of supplementary sectors, and from, the 

length, straightness, and simplicity of the lower sector of the triangle, 

which terminates well beyond the middle of the wing. The entire 

margin of the wing, the length of the lower sector of the triangle, and 

the relative brevity of the upper side of the quadrilateral, which is 

about three-fifths as long as that of the lower side, show that it must be 

referred to Trichocnemis, and that it falls about midway between 

the subgeuera Heniicnemis and Trichocnemis, having close relation to 

JET. cyanops from the Seychelles and T. didyma from Thibet and Darjeeling by the points of origin of the median and subnodal sectors.

Of further interest is the fact that the legion is already known in the 

European tertiarie's, one species (a mere fragment and referred here 

with some doubt) in amber, the other, Platycnemis icarus, from the 

Aquitaniau of Eott, and that the latter species is so closely allied to 

our Florissant form as indubitably to fall in the same genus, so that it 

should be known henceforth as Trichocnemis icarus; here also the subnodal arises from the nodus itself; both the median and subnodal have 

the same abrupt upward curve at the base, and the form of the quadri12
NEUROPTERA ODONATA. 13

lateral is nearly identical; the number of postcnbitals is thirteen. I do 

not recall any so close relationship between the insects of the Rhenish 

basin and those of our Oligocene beds.

Florissant, Colorado. 'One specimen. .No. 1660, U. S. Geological 

Survey.

STENOGOMPHUS (metis, Gomphus, nom. gen.) gen. nov.

Upper side of the triangle a little longer than the interior, scarcely 

shorter than the exterior, which is bent; both inner and outer triangles 

subequiangular and subequal, each divided into three or four cells by 

cross veins uniting at the center; hypertrigonal space without transversals; median space with a single cross nervule, the space itself exceptionally narrow apically, diminishing gradually in width from the 

middle outward and in no way bent where the lower limb of the inner 

triangle strikes it; sectors of the arculus arising from the same point 

and continuing as one stem more than half way to the apex of the median space; three complete rows of cellules, following the triangle as far 

as below the nodus.

These characters are not combined in any known genus of Gomphoides, to which legion of Gomphina, on account of its aborted membran ule, it belongs. From the equality of the two triangles, the length 

of the upper margin of each, and the exceptional straightness of the 

postcostal nervure, the upper broad extension of the two triangles gives 

a peculiar facies to the wing, somewhat as if it were a hind wing, which 

the empty hypertrigonal space, the three complete series of cellules following the discoidal triangle, and the small number of postcubitals 

intensify.

It is interesting as being the first discovery of fossil Gomphina in 

America, and as showing an alliance with the existing New World rather 

than the Old World types. It seems, on the whole, to be most nearly 

related to Gomphoides and Progoinphus, but differs distinctly from 

the latter in the origin of the sectors arising from the arculus, 

from Gomphoides in the free hypertrigonal space, the greater length of 

the upper side of the triangle,- and from both in the straightness of the 

postcostal vein, and in having three instead of two complete series of 

cellules beyond the triangle, a character which does not appear tq have 

been found in this legion, but Avhich occurs in Cacus, asubgenus in the 

neighboring gerontogeic legion Lindenia. 1

There appear to be some other peculiarities about it which future 

comparisons may show to have some special interest. In all recent 

species of the legion I have seen, one of the cross nervules in the space 

between the nodal and subnodal sectors is heavier than the others and 

oblique, but is placed at very varying distances beyond the nodus, 

always, however, separated from it by from one to three cellules; in

1 See furthor obscrvntioiia under t'ao spocies »S'. carletoni,.
14 INTERESTING TERTIARY INSECTS. [BULL. 93.

Stenogomphus alone is it in direct continuation of the curved base of 

the nodal sector, and thus forms an integral part of the system or accessory alliance of heavy veins which depend from and form a part of the 

nodus. Again, the subnodal nervure in all living Gromphina I have 

seen, does notarise directly from the principal sector, but from a bent 

cross nervule connecting the principal and median sector, or it may be 

said to be united to the median sector close to its own base by an oblique transversal, while in Stenogomphus its origin is direct, the connection with the median being not yet gained. Add to this that the 

sectors arising from the arculus, the principal and the short sectors, 

not only arise from one point, but seem to be entirely blended for a distance from the arculus nearly equal to the length of the latter, and we 

find a series of characteristics of no little interest. The last feature 

seems to be found, but to a less extent, in Gomplioides bifasciata, and still 

less in G. brevipes, in both of which, however, the veins do not blend 

until past the extreme base, while in Stenogomphus they have but a 

single origin. Besides, the number of postcubitals is exceptionally 

small, these varying in the entire legion from eight to seventeen, and 

averaging twelve, though in Goinphoides proper, to which Stenogomphus is most nearly allied, the average is ten; in Stenogomphus there 

are but seven.

STENOGOMPHTJS CAELETONI. 

PL 1, Fig. 1.

A single fore wing and part of its reverse are all that are known of 

this dragon fly. The wing is hyaline or very faintly infumated beyond 

the nodus; the reticulation, is testaceous, the principal sector and the 

main veins above it, with the costal margin, ferruginous, deepening into 

blackish when bordering the ferrugineo-testaceous pterostigma. This 

latter is subequal, about four-and a half times longer than broad, 

surmounts less than three unequal cellules, its inner bordering vein 

subcoutinuous A\rith the cross nervule below; twelve antecubitals, seven 

postcubitals; both, triangles subequilateral with crowfoot division into 

three cells, the upper outer angle of the discoidal triangle perhaps sometimes severed by a cross vein to form a minute fourth cell; outer margin 

of same triangle slightly bent above, scarcely more, than a tenth longer 

than the upper margin, which iu its turn is scarcely more than a tenth 

longer than the inner margin; of the borders of the inner triangle the 

lower is the longer, the others subequal.

Length, 39 millimeters; breadth, 8-7 millimeters.

The living species to which this is most nearly allied is unquestionably 

Gomplioides stigmata Say sp., found in Texas. To this conclusion both 

Baron de Selys and Dr. Hagen, to whom I sent sketches of the neuration, arrived independently, and Baron de Selys kindly pointed out some 

peculiarities of that species,, which, in view of the structure of Stenogomphus, have special interest. One of the two specimens ( $ and ? )
SCUDDKB.] HEMIPTEEA CICADIDJS. 15

in his possession has the hypertrigonal space tree on one fore wing but 

not on the other; while on another is found, also on one wing but not on 

the opposite, the beginning of a series of five or six very small pentagonal cellules between the two rows of tetragonal ones following the 

discoidal triangle. By the kindness of Dr. Hagen, Mr. Uhler, and Mr. 

Calvert, I am able to report regarding the structure of fifteen other 

specimens of this species; in all without exception on both wings there 

are next the triangle first three cellules (as figured in de Selys's Monographic des Gomphiues), then two series to a point between the origin 

of the median nervure and the nodus, increasing to a greater number 

below the nodus; but in the number of transversals in the hypertrigonal space there is some variation; in all but two specimens the wings 

are alike on the two sides and show either one or two transversals in 

this space; but one male has three transversals on the left, two on the 

right side; and one female one transversal on the left, tAvo on the right. 

Curiously enough these asymmetrical individuals are from the same lot 

as those in Baron de Selys's collection, viz, the specimens collected by 

General (then Captain) Pope on the Pecos river, Texas, in the extreme 

western part of the State, at the time of the Mexican boundary survey; 

while all the others but two were collected by Aaron in the extreme 

southern part of the State, between Laredo, 100 miles inland, on the 

Rio Grande, and Corpus Christi, on the Gulf coast. The last two are in 

Mr. Uhler's collection.

Crest of Roan Mountains, Colorado, found by Mr. Carleton E. Davis, 

of my party, in 1889. One specimen, Fos. 1146 and 1185, U. S. Geological Survey.

HEMIPTERA-CICADID^E. 

CICADA L1NNE.

CICADA GRANDIOSA. 

PI. 1, Fig. 3.

A single hind wing, showing the complete neuration, except a fragment of the tip, is all that remains; besides indicating a species of 

very large size, as large as the largest known American forms in North 

or Central America, and having also unusual breadth, it differs from 

them much more than almost any of the genera of Cicadidse do from 

each other, and therefore indicates a distinct genus. The neuration in 

general agrees with that given for Fidicina and Cicada by Distant in 

the Biologia Centrali-Americana, or for that of an East Indian species of 

Fidicina by Walker (Cat. Brit. Mus., Hornopt, PL 1, Fig. 2), but diifers 

from them all in an unusual peculiarity, the great length of the apical 

cells, the transverse interlocking of the veins occurring much nearer 

the middle of the wing than usual; moreover, the upper uluar vein 

when it forks (just before its union with the lowest radial) does so by
16 INTERESTING TERTIARY INSECTS. [BULL. 93.

throwing off an inferior branch from about the center of the wing, 

while the upper branch, united to the lowest radial, scarcely diverges 

from the original path of the main stein ; and finally, the lower ulnar, 

when it has run a little more than half its course parallel and close to 

the sutura clavi, suddenly bends slightly upward and terminates on 

the outer margin much nearer to the upper radial vein than to the sutura clavi; no trace of the membrane can be seen beyond the marginal 

vein 5 the veins are very delicate and the wing immaculate.

Lewgth of fragment, 25 millimeters; probable length of venation in 

hind wings, 26-5 millimeters; breadth, 1O5 millimeters; probable expanse of fore wings, 115 millimeters.

This is much larger than any of the tertiary Cicadidae of Europe, 

none of which have the hind wing preserved.

Florissant, Colorado. One specimen, No. 1850, U. S. Geological Survey.

COLEOPTERA BYRRHID^E. 

NOSOTETOCUS (vom^, ) gen. nov.

But a single genus, Nosodendron Latr., has hitherto been recognized 

in the Nosodendrinae, a subfamily distinguished from other Byrrhidae 

by its prominent head, which is not retracted as in the other subfamilies. In the tertiaries of Colorado, however, and perhaps in those of 

Europe as well, a genus of Byrrhidae is found in which the head is as 

prominent as in Nosodendrou, but differs from it very distinctly in the 

character of the antennae, which in Nosodendron have a distinct and 

sharply delimited club formed by the abrupt expansion of the three 

last joints. In the extinct genus, which from its relation to Nosodendron we call Nosotetocus, the antennae enlarge with great regularity, no one joint being greatly larger than the preceding, and the apical 

joints being considerably less than twice as broad as the. narrowest 

joints of the stem. In other respects it agrees very closely with Nosodendron, the form of the head being similar, the antennae composed 

of eleven joints, of which the second is longer than the,others, and 

all, excepting perhaps the basal joint, which can not easily be seen, 

are gently obconic, perhaps depressed. The prothorax is short and 

the scutellum small. The legs are moderately stout, the tibiae apparently of similar width throughout.

Three species, differing considerably, are found at Florissant, and it 

would appear probable from the figures and descriptions of the three 

species which have been referred to Byrrhus from the European tertiaries that they also belonged here. They all appear to have nonretracted heads, and in the case of one, B. examinatus Heyd., the 

antennae have the same construction as in Nosotetocus. A reexamination of the specimens is desirable, as it would be interesting to know 

if Nosotetocus preceded Nosodendron in Europe as well as in America, 

Only one of our species is described here.
BCUUUBH.] COLEOPTERA CARABID^E. 17

NOSOTETOCUS MAKCOVI.

PI. 2, Figs. 2, 3.

Form obovate, about half as long again as broad, the head projecting 

distinctly beyond the front and breaking the regularity of the form, the 

curve being emarginate on the anterior sides of the prothorax. The 

head is comparatively narrow, being scarcely transverse, very regularly 

rounded and scarcely produced in front. The antennae are considerably longer than half the width of the body, the apical joint, which is 

largest and slightly produced at tip, nearly twice as broad as the narrowest part of the stem. The elytra are distinctly though feebly striato 

and the striae faintly punctured.

Length, 5-25 millimeters; breadth, 3 millimeters; breadth of head, 

1-5 millimeters; length of antennae, 2 millimeters.

Named for the geologist, Prof. Jules Marcou, of Cambridge,

Florissant, one specimen, No. 110.

COLEOPTERA CARABID^E. 

CARABITES HEER.

CARABITES EX ANIMUS. 

PI. 1, Fig. 4.

The surface of the elytra is smooth, but for the sharp, slender, rather 

deeply impressed, straight striae, showing feeble signs of scattered delicate punctures, hardly enlarging.the width of the striae and very obscure. The second stria terminates at the base just as it bends outward 

opposite the tip of the scutelluni, while the third runs into the fourth, 

and there is no basal stria; the second and fourth are roundly united 

apically around the tip of the third, and are joined to the united fifth 

and sixth by a short spur; the first and tenth are united at the very 

tip of the elytra.

Length of elytron, 9 millimeters; middle width of one, 3 millimeters.

Finding it impossible definitely to place this beetle, which is represented only by the elytra, but these in excellent preservation, I put it 

temporarily in a magazine genus to indicate its general affinities, 

for its general aspect is that of a large carabid, which the inferior 

plica of the outer margin strongly confirms; but there is not a. sign 

of dorsal punctures or foveae, except a minute puncture at the oblique 

base of the third stria, and even no ocellate piinctures between the 

ninth and tenth strise. Of all the tribes possessing such an inferior 

plica, it seems to agree best with the Pterostichini, but there are here 

nine perfectly and equally distinct and equidistant striae besides a 

tenth marginal stria. The elytra are slender, with a distinct emargination at the tip of the inferior plica and with narrowed base and wellBull. 93 2
18 INTERESTING TERTIARY INSECTS. [BULL. 93.

rounded humeri; the first and third striae are deflected outward at 

their base by the tolerably large triangular scutellum.

From the lowest beds on the immediate bank of the White River, 

Utah, about 5 miles from the Colorado line. One specimen, Nos. 624 

and 626, U. S. Geological Survey.

DIPTERA CESTRID^E.

The (EstridfB of the present day live in their early stages beneath 

the skiu or in the glands or cavities of various Mammalia, hardly any 

of the terrestrial groups being free from their attacks; they principally 

pursue, however, the Perissodactyla, Euminautia, and Eodentia, and 

of these the ruminants are by far the most subject to them, and particularly the Cervidse and Boviuee. Now, neither of these dominant 

families appears to have existed in Oligocene times, when the insect 

described below flourished, and they have reached their present differentiation and predominance quite despite the attacks of this insect 

family which was awaiting their advent into the world. Perhaps Paloestrus sought the Tylopoda of the time as its victims.

PALCESTEUS ( kai, olarpo-) gen. nov.

A genus of (Estridse remarkable for the very striking course of the 

fourth longitudinal vein, which finds no counterpart in living GEstridse 

so far as I can find. Nor, indeed, can I discover anything of the sort 

among the calyptrate Muscaria. The only species known is of the largest size, rivaling the largest known living forms, with wings of a 

rather slender form and immaculate. The costal vein is finely and 

densely bristled, the costal cell of somewhat unusual width, partly 

from the rather short auxiliary vein which terminates well before the 

middle of the wing; the first three longitudinal veins terminate at 

nearly equidistant intervals in the apical fourth of the wing, the second and third, as normally, with upturned tips; the third longitudinal 

vein arises from the second at slightly less than a third way from the 

base; the fourth, instead of running in a straight or gently flexed 

course, perhaps bent, at the middle transverse vein, is profoundly 

affected by that vein, which is extremely short and lies abuut as far 

beyond, as the origin of the third longitudinal vein before, the tip of 

the auxiliary vein; in passing toward this middle transverse vein the 

fourth longitudinal vein runs parallel and near to the straight fifth longitudinal vein as far as. the middle of the wing, and then curves strongly 

upward to strike the transverse vein at a wide angle, is there bent at 

right angles with itself, and passes in a nearly straight course subparallel to the fifth longitudinal until it meets the hinder transverse vein, 

when it is again bent, this time upward but at a very broad angle, and 

reaches the margin just beyond the third longitudinal vein, thus leaving the first posterior cell (barely) open; the anterior basal trans-
DIPTERA MYCETOPHIL1DJE. " 19

verse vein is directly opposite the origin of the third longitudinal vein 5 

the posterior, strongly arcuate, is situated a little within it; the fifth 

longitudinal vein terminates just beyond the hinder transverse vein, 

not reaching the margin. The legs are not very long, the femora 

remarkably stout, the tibiae straight, the tarsi of the same length as 

the tibiae.

This genus seems to be most nearly allied to Hypoderma, which is 

found all over the world and attacks various kinds of cattle, but especially Cervidae, but the whole course of the fourth longitudinal vein is 

materially different. 1

A single species is known, from Florissant.

PALCESTRTJS OLIOOCENUS. 

PL 2, Figs. 1, 4.

The single imperfect specimen that has been found has been so fully 

described under the genus that little is left to be said. The remains 

consist of the rotund thorax, the wings, excepting the membranous 

hind margin, the hind legs and the middle femora; the tegulce are obscure, but appear to be normal. The wing is hyaline. The basal 

joint of the abdomen seems to be represented by a detached piece beside 

a leg, perhaps a fore leg; if so, it is of great size relatively to the thorax, the hinder margin being broader than the thorax; it is blackish 

brown like the thorax, with the hind margin lighter. The legs* and 

especially the femora, are delicately bristled; the tibiae are scarcely in 

the least enlarged in the middle, and the tarsi are about two-thirds as 

stout as the tibiae.

Length of wing, 16 millimeters; breadth of thorax, 7 millimeters; of 

base of first abdominal segment, 5-5 millimeters; of apex of same, 8 

millimeters; length of hind femora, 4-75 millimeters; tibiae, 5 millimeters; tarsi, 5 millimeters.

Florissanf, Colorado. One specimen, Nbs. 13703 and 1408G.

DIPTERA MYCETOPHILID^E.

Subfamily MYCETOPH^ETIN^E.

This new group is remarkable for combining in the neuration of tire 

wing characters which are found only in distinct groups among living 

forms. It may be defined as follows: The vena media arises at the base 

of the wing from the vena postica, but is apparently also united by a 

cross vein close to its base with the radius. The transverse median 

vein elongate, very oblique. The humeral cell very slightly enlarged 

in the middle. The brachial vein present and very much elongated,

'It may be remarked, as a precaution to younger students, that in all the figures of Hypoderma, 

and, indeed, many other genera iii Braucr's Monographic dor Oestridon, a single vein is made to do 

4uty for both first and second longitudinal veius.
20 ' INTERESTING TERTIARY INSECTS. [BULL. 93.

both cubital cells open and elongate. The lower discoidal vein originating In the vena postica, but also connected at its base by a cross 

vein with the vena media, a cross vein which does not exist in the other 

groups of Mycetophilidse. The vena axillaris complete. 

This group seems to stand between the Mycetobinse and Sciophilinae.

MYCETOPH^TUS (A^C, 9otrdw) gen. nov.

Wings with the form of those of Sciophila, the auxiliary vein terminating in the margin a little beyond the middle of the wing and a little 

beyond the base of the brachial vein; the marginal vein,extending to 

or almost to the tip of the wing where the cubital meets it; the fourth 

posterior cell arises as far back as the inner cubital cell ; the third posterior is divided into two, a basal and an apical, the latter as long as 

the fourth posterior; the axillary is also divided into two, an anterior 

and a posterior, the former much the narrower and narrowing apically. 

Legs long and slender, the fore femora considerably longer than the 

thorax, the tibiae longer than the femora, both abundantly spinous. 

Abdomen eight-jointed.

At least one species occurs at Florissant.*

MYCETOPELETUS INTERMEDIUS.

PI. 2, Fig. 5.

Head and thorax dark,. the abdomen much lighter, the legs nearly 

or quite as dark throughout as the thorax ; wings hyaline, but faintly 

fuliginous in the upper half, especially beyond the middle. The brachial vein arises shortly beyond the transverse median vein, and in 

its basal half runs parallel to, and close beside, the cubital, but afterwards diverges a little from it and strikes the margin a little nearer the 

radius. The second posterior cell is long nearly as long a^s the hinder 

cubital cell and broad from the. base. The abdomen is slender and 

tapering.

Length of body, 7-5 millimeters; wing, 5-5 millimeters; femora, 2 

millimeters. 

^lorissant, Colorado. One specimen, Nos. 5937 and 7391.

LEP1DOPTERA NYMPHALID^E.

Subfamily LIBYTHEIN^E.

In my paper on the fossil butterflies of Florissant, published in the 

Eighth Annual Report of the U. S. Geological Survey, I described an 

interesting form under the name of Prolibythea, and called attention to 

the strangeness of the occurrence, in a fossil state, of a butterfly belonging to the subfamily Ljibytheime, Indeed, it may be acknowledged
8COT»wta.l LEPIDOPTERA NYMPJIALID2E. 21

to be much the most interesting of any of the fossil butterflies yet discovered; for when we recall the fact tLiat among existing butterflies 

the Libytheiuse are by far the most poverty-stricken subfamily known, 

the occurrence, among the extremely few (less than twenty) fossil butterflies that have been found in any part of the world, of one belonging 

to this subfamily has a special significance. The existing members are 

only about a dozen at the inost, and, curiously enough, are scattered 

at the four quarters of the globe. No other subfamily has anywhere 

nearly so restricted a representation, theAcroemse, which perhaps come 

nearest to them in this respect, numbering at least ten times as many, 

while the numerical proportion of the Libytheinayto the total number 

of known butterflies is not far from 1 to 1,000. How much, more significant this is, and how much more clearly it proves the living Libytheime 

to be remnants of a waning type, as I have called them, 1 is shown 

by the occurrence iu the beds of Florissant of still another member of 

this restricted subfamily, so that the Libytlieiiui) now form more than 

10 per cent of fossil butterflies, instead of one-tenth of one per cent, as 

among living forms. I am indebted to Mr. S. H. Long, of Florissant, 

Colorado, for the opportunity of studying the most interesting specimen here described.

As will be seen, it is most nearly related to the fossil species previously found in the same beds, Prolibythca vagalmnda. It is of precisely the same large size, has the same relatively short palpi, somewhat similar antennae, a similar but not so marked costal lobe at the 

extremity of the hind wings, and a neuration agreeing very closely 

with it; so closely, indeed, that it would be regarded by many as a 

member of the same genus. It differs strikingly, however, in the 

greater breadth of the wings and in the structure of the antennas and 

palpi, and in most of its points shows closer affinities with the European Libythea than with the African Dichora, instead of the opposite, 

as in Prolibythea. These and other distinctions seem to be sufficient to 

warrant its generic separation from previous known fossils, and I accordingly describe it under the following name:

BAKBABOTHEA (ftdpftapo^ ota) gen. nov.

Antennae slender, the club so gradually incrassated as to be difficult 

to determine its origin, composed of about one-fourth 'of the total number of joints, but little more than one-fourth the length of the whole 

antenna, and less than twice as broad as the stalk, terminating very 

abruptly, a single joint, or at most two, being concerned in its apical 

diminution in size5 the whole antenna scarcely more than three-fifths 

the length of the wing. The apical joint of the palpi not more than 

three times longer than broad, only a little more than two-thirds the 

length of the second joint. Fore wings a little more than one-half as

'Seo BuU. N. Kngl., 1:759.
22 INTERESTING TERTIARY INSECTS. [BULL. 98.

long again as broad, subtriangular, the costal margin regularly and 

gently arched 5 the apical margin produced in the upper half of the 

wing, roundly and not at all prominently angulated at the tip of the 

lowest subcostal nervule, the last two superior subcostal uervules originating far apart, the outer at a little more than midway between the 

tip of the cell and the apex of the wing; the third about midway 

between the second and fourth. Hind wing of very nearly equal length 

and breadth, the costal margin as in Prolibythea, but with less pronounced apical lobe, the outer border very regularly arcuate and 

crenulate, not at all produced in the subcostal region, the lowest median 

nervure widely distant from the submediau and terminating in a distinct but rounded lobe; cell closed by a transverse vein, which strikes 

the median barely beyond its last furcation.

Of the pattern of the wings little can be made out, but the under 

surface of the fore wings would appear to be almost uniformly dark, 

with no oblique patch depending from the costal margin, excepting 

such as is indicated by a narrow, very oblique, darker, abbreviated bar 

just beyond the apex of the cell. The hind wing would appear to have 

been darker beneath than the fore wing, showing large patches of a 

deeper tint outside the cell on either side, in the basal third of the 

wing.

In the general proportion of the wings Barbarothea would appear to 

be more nearly related to Libythea than to any other of the genera of 

Libytheinse, living or fossil, but in the possession of a tail or lobe to 

the lowest median nervule of the hind wings and of a rounded angulation at the lowest inferior subcostal nervule of the fore wing, it approaches more nearly the African Dichora. Possibly it may be found 

in both these respects, as it certainly is in the former, closer to Prolibythea, since the actual outline of the fore wing in that genus is 

partly conjectural, the only specimen having a broken tip; but the 

absence of the falcation so prominent in all recent LibytheinaB will be 

remarked. In the origin of the outer superior subcostal nervules it 

also approaches more closely Dichora than any other genera, unless it 

be again Prolibythea. In the form of the hind wing it is unique; the 

costal lobe, however, closely resembles that of Prolibythea, but the 

extreme breadth of the wing as related to its length separates it widely 

from that and from all other genera of Libytheiuae. In the structure 

of the antennae it seems to stand midway between Libythea and Prolibythea, having the slender form and brief club of Prolibythea, but 

the abrupter tip and slighter distinction between club and stalk, 

which belongs to Libythea. In the brevity of the apical joint of the 

palpus, however, we find a marked departure from the ordinary condition of things in Libytheinre, since here only, in this subfamily, is the 

apical joint, though relatively longer than in most butterflies, shorter 

than the middle joint.
SCUDDEB.J LEPIDOPTERA NYMPHALID2E. 23

BARBAROTHEA FLORISSANTI.

PI. 3, Figs. 1-5.

The single specimen which has been found shows the side view of a 

butterfly remarkably well preserved, better preserved, indeed, than any 

known, with the sole exception of Prodryas, from the same beds. But, 

unfortunately, it is somewhat confused by the mixture of veins and 

markings of the underlying wings, the margins of which, do not altogether coincide. Moreover, the stone upon which it chances to be j>reserved is of much more irregular surface than was the case with Prodryas, rendering many points obscure which one would wish to see. 

Thus, though the form of the scales, at least upon the fringe, can be 

determined, no striation is visible, and where the wings have slipped 

past each other to a slight extent, the relation of the nervures to the 

margin can not always be determined with perfect accuracy. Both of 

the antennae are preserved, one perfectly, as also are the palpi, the 

drooping tongue and part of the legs. The length of the body is only 

faintly and probably indicated by the discoloration of the surface. 

The fore wings, the outline of which where overlapped by the hind 

wing is not everywhere altogether clear, have the costal margin very 

regularly and gently convex, falling, however, with greater rapidity 

ust before the apex. The outer margin is slightly produced in the subcostal region in a broad swelling between the tip of the subcostal 

nervule and of the uppermost median nervule; below this the outer 

margin is not clear. In the hind wing the costal margin is altogether 

as in Prolibythea vagabunda, except that the apical lobe is less pronounced; there is no such emargiuation of the outer border at the extremity of the costo-subcostal interspace, the outline between the tips 

of the costal nervure and the lowest median nervule being almost the 

segment of a circle, apart from the slight and regular crenulation of 

the wing; this crennlation is most marked in the lobe next the anal 

angle, and is everywhere produced by the slight projection of the tips 

of all the nervules; but the tip of the lowest submedian nervule appears 

to terminate in an emargination and not a projection of the border. 

The sketch of the neuratiou/(Fig. 1) represents the wing precisely as 

it appears npon the stone, but as a vein is plainly seen running to the 

tip of the prominent lobe below this, it is perfectly plain that here the 

nervure of one wing and the border of another underlying it are delineated. It seems, however, nearly impossible to distribute the two 

quite properly from the specimen, and it has accordingly been, drawn 

in this way to call attention to this point in future specimens that may 

be obtained. The markings of the wing, as stated above, under the 

generic description, are altogether obscure, Avith very slight exceptions, 

but it is impossible to mark definitely the limits of the various darker 

clouds; they are best shown by reference to the plate. The antennae 

are composed of about forty-four joints, of which eleven or twelve form
24 INTERESTING TERTIARY INSECTS. [BULL. 93.

a very slightly enlarged club, which is only a little more than half as 

broad again as the stalk. The whole club shows the separation of the 

naked surface from that covered by the scales in a very remarkable 

manner, as is shown best in Fig. 3, where it is most enlarged; and this 

drawing also shows equally well the three slender carinae, extending 

not only upon the club, but upon the' stalk as well, certainly throughout its whole apical half, and probably throughout the whole; the 

joints of the club are nearly half as broad again as long, while the proportions of those of the stalk are reversed to almost exactly the same 

degree. The basal and middle joints of the palpi are furnished abundantly with moderately long, stiff, projecting hairs, which are directed 

forward, while on the apical joint these are entirely absent, excepting 

at the extreme base, or better may be described as entirely recumbent. 

It would appear to be somewhat doubtful which of the legs are represented upon the stone. One pair is shown, one of them imperfectly, 

the other almost complete, which would be regarded as the front pair but 

for their excessive length. They are simple and normal in structure 

throughout and abundantly and almost equally clothed with fine and 

crowded spines upon the under surface throughout the tibia and ta.rsi. 

The dark portion seen between the base of these legs and the tip of 

the slender, racier brief tongue can not be regarded as a pair of legs, 

but only as the clothing of the chest.

Length of body (doubtful), including the palpi, 2G millimeters; last 

joint of palpi, 2-5 millimeters; middle joint, 3-25 millimeters; antennae, 

12 millimeters; club of same, 3-5 millimeters; width of stalk, 0-25 millimeters; of club, 0-4 millimeter; length of tongue, 5 millimeters ; length 

of fore wing, 28-5 millimeters; breadth of fore wing, 16-5 millimeters; 

expanse (estimated), 61 millimeters; length of hind wing, 22 millimeters; breadth, 21-5 millimeters; length of (middle 1?) tibiae and tarsi, 

0-5 millimeters.

Florissant. One specimen; S. H. Long.

HYMENOPTERA TENTHREDINIDyE. 

ATOCUS (faoxoq) gen. nov.

In its slender parallel-sided form this genus has all the aspect of a 

Sirex, but not only is there no extension of the prothorax, but the 

large head is closely appressed to the thorax. The head is large, 

rounded subtriangular, broadest posteriorly. The ocelli are apparently only two in number, rather large, situated just at the inner base 

'of the antennae; these are fourteen-jointed, the first joint very large, 

twice as stout as, and very much longer than the succeeding, which are 

simple, longer than broad, and continually diminish in size. Wings 

with two marginal cells, separated almost beneath the middle of the 

stigma; four submarginal cells-, the first small and nearly circular, the 

remainder widening and enlarging outwardly, and excepting the apical
SCUDDER.] ' HYMENOPTERA TENTHREfclNlM. 25

much longer than broad; first discoidal cell hexagonal, about as long 

as broad, and but little larger than the first submarginal cell; second 

discoidal cell of exceptional shape, being oblique and much higher 

than long, its inner margin beneath the middle of the first discoidal 

cell, while the third brachial cellule thus made of unusual length is 

partially or completely divided into two nearly equal pa.rts by a spurious veinlet from the vein above, somewhat as in Cephaleia.

Except for the simple antennae this curious genus seems to have 

some relationship to the oriental Tarpa, and I can not find anything 

nearer to it unless it be Cephaleia. It is a striking form.

A single species occurs at Florissant.

ATOCUS BEFESSUS. 

PI. 1, Fig. 5.

The whole body is uniformly dark, the wings without markings except the fusco-fuliginous stigma; the antennas are about half as long 

again as the width of the head, and beyond the first joint taper so as 

to be about half as broad at apex as at second joint; the outer is about 

twice as long as the inner marginal cell which lies wholly beneath the 

stigma, and is about as broad at base as at apex; the first submarginal cell on the other hand lies almost wholly before the stigma, and 

has as much an appearance of belonging to the marginal as to the submarginal series; the cross veins at the outer sides of the first submarginal and first and second discoidal cells form a pretty regular zigzag across the middle of the wing.

Length of body, 10-5 millimeters; antennae, 3-25 millimeters; fore 

wings, 7-5 millimeters.

Florissant, Colorado. One specimen, No. 11983.

PLATES.

PLATE I.

29
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.

Fig. 1. Stenogoinphus carletoni; f.

2. Tricliocnemis aliena; ^.

3. Cicada grandiosa; f.

4. Carabites exanimus; f

5. Atocus defessus; antenna, much enlarged.

6. Atocus defessus, complete; ^. 

30
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN NO. 93 PL.
PLATE II.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE II.

Fig. 1. Paloestrus oligocenus, body and wings; f.

2. Nosotetocus marcovi; f.

3. The same, the antenna) further enlarged; -\a.

4. Paloestrus oligocenus, basal joint of abdomen and leg;

5. Mycetophaitus iuterniedius; f.

32
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN NO. 93 PL. II
\*

PLATE III,

 ii

Bull. 93 3 ' 33
EXPLANATION OF PLATE III.

Fig. 1. Barbarothea florissanti, outline and neuration in the position in which it 

is preserved; f-.

2. The same, its general appearance on the stone; \.

3. The same, right antenna, much enlarged; f.

4. The same, sketch of head and appendages except wings, enlarged; f.

5. The same, the neuration, as far as preserved, that of each wing separated; f. 

34
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN NO. 93 PL. Ill
INDEX.

	Page. 

Acrseinas.._. ......... ............ 21

aliena, Trichocnemis..__ 12

Atocus..................................... 24

Atocus defessus ........ .. ........ 25

Barbarothea ......__ _. ... 21

Barbarothea florrissantl.................. 23

Byrrhidas........................ ... 16

Byrraus exanlmatus..--- ...... 16

Cacus...................................... 13

Carabidro.................................. 17

Carabites ........._. ................. 17

Carabitesexanlmus....................... 17

carletoni, Stenogomphus................. 14

Cephaleia ........... .._.._.......» 25

Cicada ..._......_....._............ 15

Cicada grandiosa.......................... 15

Cicadidaa..._.............................. 15

Coleoptera _.__ ........... 16

defessus, Atocus _. ............ . 25

Dichora.................................... 21,22

Diptera.................................... 18

exanimus, Carabites _.... ........... 17

Fidicina ................................... 15

florissanti, Barbarothea ....... _........ 23

Gomphina ........_........ ......... 13

Gomphoides............................... 13

Gomphoidesbifasciata ._..........._. 1*

brevipes .... ... ..... ..... 14

stigmata............................... H

grandiosa, Cicada......._....____. 15

Hemicnemis cyanops.._.... _.... _ 12

Hemiptera..___...._...._____ 15

Hymenoptera .................. ...... 24

Hypoderma .....__.______ 19

Lepidoptera...................... ...... 20

Libythea .................................. 21,22

Libytheinae..._......

Lindenia._..........

marcovi, Nosotetocus 

Muscaria ....__......

Page.

.............. 20

.............. 13

.............. 17

.............. 18

Mycetobinee............................... 30

Mycetophastinse........................... 19

MycetophiBtus ...'................._.... 20

Mycetophsetus Intermedius ....._...... 20

Mycetophilidas ............................ 19

Neuroptera................................ 12

Nosodendron.._.._................... 16

Nosotetocus..............._............ 16

Nosotetocus marcovi.........__.... 17

Nymphalidas .............................. 20

Odonata................................... 12

QEstridae.....--.-._.... --...--.-..._....... 18

oligocenus, Paloestrus ............__. 19

Palcestrus................................. 18

Palcestrusoligocemis..._.............. 19

Platycnemis............................... \;i

Platycnemis Icarus....................... 12

Prodryas.................................. 23

Progomphus .......... ................. 13 .

Prolibythea ............................... 20,22

Prolibythea vagabunda ........._...... 21,23

Pterostichini............................... 17

Sciophila.................................. 20

Sciophillnaa................................ *20

Sirex....................................... 24

Stenogomphus ........................ . 13

Stenogomphus carletoni.......... _..... 14

Tarpa............ ..... .. 25

Tenthredinidaa .._..._................. 24

Trichocnemis .................. ...... 12

Trichocnemis aliena..........._.__ 12

Icarus.........'..... ............ 12

35