BLABEKA. 117 



BLABERA, Serv. 

 Blabera, Serville, Orthopt. p. 74 (1831) (partim), et auctt. 



This genus is peculiar to Tropical America, extending also beyond the Tropics to the 

 south. Its species are rather numerous and extremely closely allied ; they are very 

 difficult to distinguish, on account of the variability of their markings. We have 

 therefore considered it advisable to give a conspectus of all the known species, so that 

 those from Central America may be more readily identified. 



The colour of the elytra is somewhat variable, the brown markings on the middle 

 being occasionally obsolete. The discoidal macula of the pronotum is also very 

 variable in form (comp. Tab. V, figg. 28-31), extending to, or distant from, the 

 anterior margin, and either adorned with ferruginous dots or not dotted at all. The 

 eyes in certain species are more approximated in some specimens than in others. The 

 femora bear typical spines, but they are obliterated in some individuals. These differ- 

 ences are not specific. 



Synopsis specierum. 



(The species not numbered and in parentheses are mentioned here to avoid, confusion ; 

 they do not belong to the Central-American fauna.) 



a. Femora anteriora subtus in margine anteriore spinis 2-5 ; intermedia subtus apice utrinque 

 spina 1. Pronotum plane ellipticum, disco macula grandi nigra. Elytrorum area costalis 

 laevigata, punctulata, elongata. 

 b. Area costalis longissima, dimidium marginem longe superans, per sulcum flexuosum 

 campum marginalem dividentem delineata. Statura magna vel media, 

 c. Fulveseens, macula pronoti postice rotundata, limbum liberans, antice utrinque acute 

 producta. 

 d. Grandis. — (stollii, Br.) — (? ferruginea, Stoll.) 

 dd. Media. Oculi in vertice modice remoti, paralleli. — {brasiliana, Sss.) 

 cc. Macula disci marginem postieum pronoti attingens. 



d. Majores ; macula discoidali quadrata, marginem postieum includens. 



e. Elytra magna parte fusca, basi maculis luteis 4; alse fuscse. — 1. atropos, Stoll. — 

 {fusca, Br.) 

 ee. Elytra fulva, fascia transversa discoidali fusca. 



/. Maxima, pronoto magis transverse — (gigantea, L.) 

 ff. Minus grandis, pronoto minus transverso. — 2. trapezoidea, B. 

 dd. Minores, macula discoidali retro angustata (per varietatem quadrata) ; elytra fulva, vitta 

 humerali fusca, disco plus minus basi infuscato. Oculi remoti. 

 e. Minor, alis infuscatis. Oculi in vertice remoti, infere divergentes. Species minima 



generis. — {minor, Sss.) 

 ee. Statura media, alis fulvo-hyalinis. 



/. Oculi in vertice minus remoti; capite nigro. Macula pronoti retro paulum 

 angustata, marginem postieum includens. 



