Ball — North American Membracidae (Hemiptera). 29 



28. Types in the author's collection. This species on account of the rich 

 brown color was thought to be a western variety of scalaris until a larger 

 series of that species was studied. It appears to be quite constant in the 

 much smaller and sinuated rather than definitely stepped crest and the 

 color pattern is quite distinctive. 



Platycentrus taurinus, n. sp. 



Shorter and stouter than acuticornis with much shorter horns. Resem- 

 bling obtusicornis , but with horns more slender and tapering. Length $ 

 6.5 mm. ; width of horns 5.5 mm. 



Head broader and less arcuated at base than in obtusicornis, meta- 

 podium convex, coarsely punctured, rugulose. A pair of large depressed, 

 finely shagreened callosities situated on a line with the horns and the 

 ocelli and two pairs of smaller irregular ones outside these. A pair of 

 horns arising directly above the humeri and extending obliquely forward 

 and upward forming a right angle with the margin of the pronotum 

 and curving outward and slightly backward until their acute apices ex- 

 tend horizontally. Viewed from above the extreme curve of the horns 

 exceeds the metapodium. Viewed from in front they rise but little above 

 the level of the dorsum. The horns are thick at the base, triquetrous or 

 almost quadrangular, regularly narrowing to the acuminate apices. An- 

 terior and posterior carinae sharp and definite, usually a carina arising 

 from above the humeri and extending to the apex and an irregular dorsal 

 one much broken at the base. Posterior process of pronotum broad at 

 base then slightly inflated and rapidly roundingly narrowing to an acute 

 apex. 



Color: dark brown punctured with fuscous, which is emphasized on 

 the face, base of horns and posterior process. Carinae and coarse rugae 

 lighter especially behind the horns and before the process. Callosities 

 black. Tegmina hyaline, nervures distinct, brown, growing paler toward 

 the margins ; basal area fuscous adjoined by a light band which inter- 

 rupts the brown on the nervures. 



Described from a female taken by the writer from Cabazon, California, 

 June 20, and five paratype females from the same place. Types in the 

 author's collection. 



This is probably the species listed by VanDuzee as acuticornis Stal but 

 is quite distinct from examples of that species in the writer's collection 

 from Mexico. It is much nearer obtusicornis but differs from that species 

 in the shape and position of the horns. 



