Vol. XXVli] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 295 



added another evident synonym, rufescens, to the present list, 

 giving for the basis of that name only such characters as slight 

 differences in the shape of the ocular margins and shape of 

 the pronotum to separate it from cubensis, features attributable 

 wholly to individual variation within the species. 



We find Walker's subspwcata to be based primarily on 

 material of the present species, though the Brazilian specimen 

 included probably represents a different form. This name was 

 placed by Kirby under cubensis in 1904. 



The present insect is the smallest of the North American 

 species of Blab ems and is a rather robust species. Decided 

 variation is found in the pronotal form, while the extremes of 

 intensive and recessive coloration are very dissimilar in gen- 

 eral appearance. 



The following features are of interest : 



Head with interspace between eyes in males from one-half to three- 

 quarters the interocellar width (normally three-quarters), in females 

 over one-half to (normally) four-fifths the interocellar width. Head 

 shining blackish, ocelli and soft portions of clypeus buff. Ocelli with 

 flattened surface slanting laterad, the inner margin hardly raised above 

 the very weakly concave surface of the space between the ocelli in 

 males, not at all raised above the deplanate surface of this space in 

 the females. Tegmina very ample but short, reaching well beyond the 

 abdomen in males, very slightly beyond the apex of the supra-anal 

 plate in females; margins distad broadly rounding to distinct but not 

 sharply rounded apex, which in position is slightly nearer the costal 

 margin. Dorsal surface of abdomen much as in B. gigantcus but with 

 apex of latero-caudal productions of sixth segment much shorter 

 and blunt. Cerci shorter, less tapering and with apex more blunt than 

 in gigantcus, with about fifteen short joints. Limbs shorter but arma- 

 ment of the same as in giganteus. 



The extremes in the series from Trinidad are given above. Decided 

 pronotal variation is shown in the material before us, frequently the 



Measurements (in millimeters). 



Length Length Width Length Width Length in 



of of of of of width of 



body pronotum pronotum legmen legmen pronotum 



Puerto Plata, San Domingo 42.1 11.9 16.8 40.2 163 X 



Porto Rico 364 11.7 16.7 40.7 16.0 X 



St. Joseph, Trinidad 44.9 12.8 17.9 43.2 16.6 X 



St. Joseph, Trinidad 36.8 11.6 16.7 40.1 16.4 X 



Panama 40.9 12.3 18.6 43.0 18.0 X 



Puerto Plata. San Domingo 49.4 13.8 19.7 41.4 19.0 X 



St. Joseph, Trinidad 51.0 13.6 196 40.8 17.8 X 



St. Joseph, Trinidad 44.0 iz.j 18.8 40.6 17.0 X . 



Caicara, Venezuela 43.8 12.8 18.0 38.4 15.3 X r ,41 



Panama 45-1 12.4 18.3 41.8 17.0 X 1.47 



43 

 4 



44 

 51 



43 

 44 

 .48 



