24:6 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOL'^GIST. 



SOME ORTHOPTERA TAKEN AT MOOSE JAW, ASSINIBOIA. 



BY A. N. CAUDELL, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Last summer, on August 24th, a few hours were spent at Moose Jaw 

 collecting Orthoptera. But few species were taken, and they are here 

 listed for the locality. They were ail taken on the open prairie, out a 

 short distance from the town. 



Chortophaga viridi/asciata, DeGeer. Nymphs only taken. 



Phlibostroma quadrimaculatum, Thom. But a it'N specimens taken. 



Gomphocerus clepsydra, Scudd. This species was moderately 

 common. 



Arphia pseudofiietana, Thom. {tenebrosa, Scudd.). Rather common, 

 but not numerous. 



Mestobregma kiowa, Thom. A single male taken. 



Encoptoloplms parvus^ Scudd. One female specimen only taken. 

 This species does not appear to have been previously reported from 

 Canada. 



Melanophis atiafiis, Riley. Apparently not very common. 



Melanoplus Dawsoni, Scudd. Only the sliort-winged variety, 

 tellustris, was taken. It occurred quite abundantly in the prairie grass. 



Melanoplus iiifantilis, Scudd. This was the most numerous of any 

 species noted. 



Grylliis Peiinsylv aniens^ var. fiegledus, Scudd. Five specimens of 

 this insect were taken under a stone in a draw, or small hollow, on the 

 prairie. Scudder has referred this insect to the synonymy, placing it as a 

 synonym of Burmeister's G. Fentisyivafiicus, but tJie smaller size and 

 shorter elytra certainly entitle it to varietal distinction. 



Nemobius fasciatus^ var. abo?ttvus, n. var. Hopping actively about 

 in the grass in and along the borders of the above-mentioned draw were 

 numbers of a small Nemobins^ which is very similar to N. fasciatus, but is 

 uniformly darker, being nearly black, and decidedly smaller, as shown by 

 the following measurements : 



Length elytra, male 4.5 to 6 mm., female 3 to 4 mm.; posterior 

 femora, male 4 to 5 mm., female 5 to 6 mm.; ovipositor, female 6 to 

 7 mm. 



About three dozen specimens, a few more females than males, were 

 taken, and they are very uniform in size and coloration. This is the 

 small black species mentioned by Walker, oia page 184 of the Canadian 

 Entomologlst for July. Specmiens were submitted to Prof Blatchley. 

 who says they may eventually prove a good species. They certainly form 

 a valid variety, which may be called abortivus. Like viitaius, it is short- 

 winged. Except for the uniform black colour, it resembles the P/. 

 Utahejisis of .Scudder. 



Miiilcc! Auiifiist ^rd, 1904. 



