DASCALIA. 59 
DASCALTIA. 
Dascalia, Stal, Bidrag till Rio Janeiro-Traktens Hemipter-Fauna, ii. p. 69 (1858); Hem. Afr. iv. 
p- 235 (1866) ’. 
Stal! characterizes this genus as follows :—“ Venis tegminum longitudinalibus apicem 
versus simplicibus, haud furcatis, seriebus duabus continuis regularibus venularum 
transversarum conjunctis,” thus separating it from Ormenis, Flata, &c., which are 
described as “venis tegminum longitudinalibus compluribus apice furcatis, venis 
transversis vario modo dispositis.” Subsequently? he gives the characters some- 
what differently :—‘“Tegminibus apicem versus seriebus duabus transversis maxime 
regularibus venularum instructis, venis longitudinalibus inter et pone series illas 
simplicibus nec furcatis.” The only insect belonging to this genus which I have seen 
is one in the Vienna Museum, presented by Signoret and labelled Dascalia nietoi (a 
manuscript name) ; this certainly differs from Ormenis, but it does not answer well to 
Stal’s description, for although the short apical veins are not (or only in one or two 
cases) forked, the regular series of transverse veins are not distinct, and in specimens in 
our collection which appear to belong to the same species they are very irregular. 
The genus is very distinct, and, apart from venation, may be known by its very short 
and broad truncate head, the very prominent shoulders and large tegule, and the 
strongly raised callosity on each side of the tegmina behind the shoulders, which gives 
the insect a swollen appearance if viewed from above; it seems to form in some way a 
sort of connecting-link between Flatoides and Ormenis. | 
1. Dascalia nietoi, sp. n. (Tab. VII. figg. 26, 26a.) 
Viridescens vel fusco-virescens, colore variante, nigro vel fusco variegata ; capite lato brevissimo, haud vel vix 
ante oculos producto, truncato, oculis prominulis; fronte suboblong4é, ad medium plus minusve distincte 
carinaté; pronoto capite longiori, antice rotundato ; scutello convexo, plus minusve nigro notato; tegmi- 
nibus fusco vel nigro notatis aut partim reticulatis, margine interno (a latere viso) ad apicem elevato, 
leviter venosis; pedibus et abdomine testaceis, vel plus minusve infuscatis. 
Very variable in colour, being light green with strong irregular dark markings, or greenish-fuscous, or fuscous- 
brown with darker markings, which on the tegmina are sometimes reticulate ; head very broad and short, 
truncate, not or scarcely produced before the eyes, which are very prominent ; forebead slightly longer 
than broad, with a more or less distinct central keel ; pronotum distinctly longer than the head, rounded 
in front; scutellum convex, about as broad as the head including the eyes, more or less marked with 
black spots, or variegated with black; tegmina not strongly veined, with the inner margin produced at 
the apex, so that when viewed from the side (when closed) it appears elevated; callosity behind the 
shoulders strong and prominent; legs and abdomen more or less agreeing with the general colour, 
the former bispinose. 
Long. 10-12 millim.; lat. ad hum. 3-4 millim. 
Hab. Mexico (Mus. Vind. Ces.); GuatemMaLa, San Juan in Vera Paz, San Isidro 
(Champion) ; Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 
A specimen from Mexico is figured. 
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