THE KANSAS UNIVERSITY 



SCIENCE BULLETIN 



Vol. XIV.] October, 1922. [No. 4. 



The Genus Acinopterus (Homoptera, Cicadellidae) , 



BY PAUL B. LAWSON, 

 Professor of Entomology, University of Kansas. 



INTRODUCTION. 



THE genus Acinoptenis was erected by Van Duzee in 1892 to 

 accommodate the species Acinoptenis acuminatus. Later, in 

 1895, Baker described a single specimen as Phlepsius inornatus, a 

 species which Van Duzee in his catalogue lists as Acinopterus acu- 

 minatus var. inornatus. Finally, in 1903, Ball described three varie- 

 ties of the typical species of the genus, the first of which, variety 

 variegatus, Van Duzee made a synonym of Baker's variety inorna- 

 tus. Thus up to the time that the writer undertook this study, one 

 species and three varieties were recognized as comprising the mem- 

 bership of this genus. The results of the study show that we now 

 have at least eight species and one variety. One or two other species 

 are probably represented in the material at hand, but because of the 

 scarcity of specimens it was not thought best to describe them as new 

 species. 



The writer is indebted to the following workers for very kindly 

 loaning him the material studied : Mr. E. L. Dickerson, Mr. George 

 G. Ainslie, Mr. F. H. Lathrop, Prof. J. G. Sanders, Dr. Dwight 

 M. De Long, Mr. C. E. Olson, Mr. Edmund H. Gibson, Prof. H. 0. 

 Osborn, and Dr. E. D. Ball. The work done is based for the most 

 part on the many specimens from the collection of Doctor Ball, who 

 not only loaned him all his own material, but also the types in the 

 collection of the Iowa State Agricultural College, and in addition 

 was a great help in making suggestions and giving information as 

 to distribution and host plants. To Mr. E. H. Gibson and Mr. W. 

 L. McAfee the writer owes the privilege of examining the collection 



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