Vol. xxvii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 159 



A new Species of the Genus Neoblattella from Costa 

 Rica (Orthoptera, Blattidae). 



By MORGAN HEBARD, Philadelphia, Pa. 



In studying material of the family Blattidae, accidentally in- 

 troduced in the United States, an undescribed species of 

 Neoblattella has been encountered. As we desired to describe 

 the species, if possible, from material taken at a locality at 

 which it is native, we have gone through the undetermined 

 material which we have and have found the additional series 

 recorded below. 



Neoblattella fratercula new species. 



This species is apparently rather closely allied to N. brun- 

 ncriana. When compared with specimens before us which we 

 believe to represent that species 1 , the present insect is readily 

 distinguished by its smaller size, tegmina and wings with cross- 

 veinlets less strongly indicated 2 , slightly iridescent wings and 

 very distinctive male genitalia. 3 



TYPE: $ ; Isla de Cocos, Costa Rica, January, 1902. (P. 

 Biolley.) [Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., Type No. 5298.] 



Size medium small for the group, smallest of the more nearly related 

 species; form rather slender. Interocular space wide; ocellar spots 

 weakly defined. Maxillary palpi very elongate; third and fourth joints 

 subequal in length; fifth (distal) joint about two-thirds as long as 

 fourth, obliquely truncate to near its base. 



1 From San Rafael in Vera Cruz, 'Mexico; Port Limon, Reventazon, 

 Juan Viiias and Azahar near Cartago, Costa Rica. 



2 In brunncriana very numerous and conspicuously defined in darker 

 brown distad, both on tegmina and wings. 



3 The only male of brunncriana before us is from Port Limon, Costa 

 Rica. It has the sides of the subgenital plate nearly vertical and sud- 

 denly abruptly truncate, leaving mesad a quadrate aperture: the bottom 

 margin of which (representing the mesal portion of the distal margin of 

 this plate) is irregularly truncate, with a small mesal knoblike projec- 

 tion, slightly longer than wide, and styles briefly distant on each side, 

 of almost the same size and form as this projection. From within the 

 plate, near this margin, spring aciculate, chitinous. somewhat decurved 

 projections, which reach a short distance beyond the margin of the 

 plate, projecting from the narrow channels between the styles and the 

 small median projection of the distal margin. 



