Vol. 31, pp. 27-30 May 16, 1918 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW GENUS AND THREE NEW SPECIES OF NORTH 

 AMERICAN MEMBRACIDAE (HEMIPTERA). 



BY E. D. BALL. 



The division of the Telamonini into genera based upon the 

 position and shape of the dorsal crest or "horn" has been 

 criticised in some quarters as having been based on trivial and 

 variable characters. Especial emphasis has been laid on the 

 fact that the pronotum is very variable and has undergone 

 striking modifications in the adaptation of the different species. 

 This may be true and probably is, but these apparent trivial 

 characters seem to be correlated with other less obvious struct- 

 ural characters and with larval variations which indicate that 

 the grouping brought about is in line with the evolution of the 

 group. As natural grouping is the end sought in generic ar- 

 rangement, the characters involved must be considered ade- 

 quate. 



A study was undertaken primarily to determine the position 

 of a large and striking species taken by the writer in the foot- 

 hills back of Pasadena, California. The species, as well as the 

 genus, proves to be new and has been described below along 

 with two other western treehoppers new to science. 



Telonaca, n. gen. 



Intermediate in structure between Telamona and Glossonotus with a 

 slight sinuation or ' ' step ' ' on the posterior face of the crest in some indi- 

 viduals suggesting Heliria. 



Species large, pronotum long, acuminate. Crest very variable, located 

 behind the humeri, inclined to be acuminate but not foliaceous, usually 

 higher than its basal width, slightly irregular in outline. Some individ- 

 uals show a definite sinuation or even a sharply defined ' ' step ' ' on the 

 posterior face suggesting Heliria. Head broad and very short. Humeral 



7— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 31, 1918. (27) 



