F. M. Carpenter.
An Eocene Bittacus (Mecoptera).
Psyche 62(1):39-41, 1955.

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AN EOCENE BITTACUS (MEC0PTERA)l
BY I?. M. CARPENTER
Harvard University
In 1928* I described, as Palaeobittacus eocenicus, a species of the family Bittacidae from Eocene strata in Colorado. This 'has been the only representative of the Mecopbera in Eocene deposits and the earliest unquestilon- able record of a living family of the order. A second Eocene bittacid has now turned up, this time among an extensive collection of insects which Dr. Carl Parsons and I made nearly twenty years ago in Utah. Ik appears to be a true Bittacus with characteristic wing venation -
and body features.
Genus Bittacus Latr.
Bittacus egestionis, n. sp.
(Figures 1 and 2)
Fore wing: 8 mm. long; maximum width, 2 mm.; nae 2 mm. long; body 7 mm. long; wings without anten-
mark-
Figure 1. Drawing of fore wing of Bittacus egestionis, n. sp. ings; venation and wing form as shown in figure 2; cubital cross-vein below the first fork of M; two pterostigmal cross-veins apparently presenk; hing wings somewhalt more slender khan fore wings.
'Published with a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College.
zA Scorpion-fly from the Green River Eocene. Annals Carnegie Museum, 28: 240-249. 1928.




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Holotype: Museum of Comparative Zdogy, No, 4921; colhxted by F. M. Carpenter md C. T, Parsons in the Evacuation Creek Formation, Gmn River Shde~, about ten miles we& of Evmmatim Creek and the $own of Wat- mn, Utah. The fossil is very well preserved* showing antennae, legs, and all four wlngs; me pair of wing3 (fore and hind) re& together dong the abdomen, but the other two extend below the body and are separated, The bases of the wings are partklIy concealed by the bcdy of the insect and +he veim them me not dedy preserved* The abgence of mpuloli and parapro& shows that the apeci- men is a female.
Figure 2. Photograph of Bittacw
egestionis, n. q., from the Eocene
of Wtsh, Length of fore wing, 8 ram,
Aside from genetic difference^ this spdm differs from P. em- by its ,more rob& facim and. am%dler &e. Its venation ia typical. of that of Biljtacus, but the species i~ %maUer than any other hm in the family, so far a0 I am aware. In my account of khe Baltic ambm Mecopted* I pointed out that one of the amber
~pwies, Bittaw




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19551 Carpenter - Eocene Bit tams 41
minimus7 with a fore wing length of 11.5 mm., was the smallest bittacid known; egestionis, with a fore wing 8 mm. long, is even smaller. However, the other amber bit- tacids, as well as Pdaeobittacus~ show that not a11 of the early Tertiary Bittacidae were small; the range in size of these fossils is more an indication of the extent of t'he diversity of the family during Tertiary times. 'The Baltic Amber Mecoptera. Psyche, 61 : 31-40. 1954. THE SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH STATION OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - The American Museum of Natural History has announced the establishment of- The Southwestern Research Statilon. It is located on the eastern slope of %he Chiricahua Mountains? near Portal, Cochise County, in southeastern Arizona. The property is within the limits of the Coronado National Forest at an elevaltion lof 5400 feet.
The station was established for the purpose of making available research facilities for s'cientists and students in a11 branches of science, who 'have problems that can be investigated through the utilization of the faunal? floral and geological features of the area. It will be open dur- ing the entire year.
It is operated by the American Museum of Natural History? (Central Park West at 79th Street, New York 24, New York and under the direction of Dr. M~ont A. Cazier? Chairman and Cura,tor of the Department of Insects and Spidelrs, to whom all inquiries should be addrlessed. Any- one interested in the station should write to the above named individual1 for the booklet which gives the details aof the operation and a general description of the area.



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