54 NORTH AMERICAN ACRIDIIDjE. 



Melanoplus divergens Morse. 



Melanopius divergens. Psyche, xi, 8, (1904). 



"A short-winged species of the same size and appearance as 

 islandicus and its two relatives here described but belonging in a 

 different series and easily distinguished by the sub-bifurcate cerci. 

 Vertex blunt. Pronotum broad with flattened disk, subangulate at 

 junction with lateral lobes, and moderately convex hinder margin, 

 the mid-carina distinct on the metazone, absent from prozone. 

 Prosternal spine short and variable, usually conical with acutely 

 pointed tip but sometimes much broadened laterally with wide, 

 bluntly rounded apex. Mesosternal interspace slightly transverse 

 in the female, narrower than the lateral lobes, quadrate or a little 

 transverse in the male. Metasternal interspace slightly transverse 

 in the female, longitudinal in the male. Tegmina shorter than the 

 pronotum, ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, with rounded apex, usually 

 covering second abdominal segment but sometimes half this length, 

 attingent in the male, separated in the female. The subgenital 

 plate is truncate or even slightly emarginate at apex, the sides 

 viewed from above nearly straight. The supra-anal plate is longer 

 than wide, triangular, pointed at apex, the sides convex. Furcula 

 moderately broad, about equalling the last segment in length. The 

 cerci are quite distinctive, recalling those of minor in outline, being 

 roughly boot-shaped, the base very broad, a little longer than wide, 

 its sides parallel or convergent, the distal two-fifths bent abruptly 

 upward at an angle of 35 or 40 , narrowed to about one-half the 

 width of the base and tapering to a broad, evenly rounded blunt 

 apex. At the union of the distal portion with the base the dorsal 

 margin is deeply concave, the ventral margin strongly angulate, 

 beyond the angle straight or a little concave, forming a sub-bifurcate 

 organ as long as the supra-anal plate. The whole appendage 

 is thick, strongly convex externally, especially on the tip, which is 

 curved gently inward. 



" General color dark reddish brown above, yellowish beneath, 

 the hind tibiae red. Postocular fuscous stripes on head and pro- 

 zone and pronounced fuscous markings on sides of abdomen and 

 hind femora, The female is sometimes yellowish brown above. 



"L,ength of body: male, 9-10; female, n-20; hind femora: 

 male, 8.5-9.5; female, 9.5-11 ; antenna: male, 6-6.5; female, 

 6-7 ; tegmina, male, 2-3 ; female, 2-4 mm." 



(See Fig. 5, p. 46 drawing of male cercus.) 

 North Carolina : Balsam, July 24, Aug. 19, 5000 to 6000 feet. 



