MORGAN HEBARD 37 



genus Neohlattella^^ as recently restricted. ^'^ From the latter, they are 

 readily separable by the oblique discoidal sectors of the tegmina, 

 type B armament of the ventro-cephalic margins of the cephalic 

 femora, greatly specialized dorsal surface of the male abdomen 

 and other features. Nearest relationship to Eoblatta appears to 

 exist. ^^ 



This genus appears to be confined to tropical America, extend- 

 ing its distribution northward to the extreme southern borders of 

 the United States where a tropical element is found. 



It is of interest to note that not a species of the genus is known, 

 or represented in the large collections before us, from the West 

 Indies, though from northern Mexico southward on the continent 

 many occur. 



Genotype: Latiblattella rehni new species. 



Generic Description. — The sexes show weak to very decided dif- 

 ferences in size and form.^^ Size moderately large to medium, 

 form moderately broad to \ery broad, for the group. Head with 

 eyes well separated ; inter-ocular-ocellar area distinctly flattened ; 

 lateral margins of face distinctly convergent ventrad. Maxillary 

 palpi less elongate than in Neoblattella, with distal joint slightly 

 shorter than, to slightly longer than, penultimate joint. ■'^ Tegmina 

 (in fully developed condition, found in numerous species only in the 

 male) delicate, moderately broad, with costal and sutural margins 

 straight and subparallel in greater part, scapular field very broad; 

 discoidal sectors numerous (usually, including their branches, eight 



« Shelford's insufficient description has led Caudell to consider Neoblattella synon\-- 

 mous with Blattella. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. xliv, p. 603, footnote i, (1913)-) The two 

 species mentioned there by Caudell represent, however, not dilatata and adspersicollis 

 as was then supposed, but the two new and distinct species here described in the present 

 new genus. 



46 Hebard, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, xlii, p. 148, footnote 3, (1916). 



4" When compared with the description of the genotypeof Eoblatta — notidata — described 

 from Tahiti, we find that in Latiblattella the discoidal sectors of the tegmina are decidedly 

 less oblique, the marginal and scapular fields of the tegmina are narrower and the sexes 

 approximate each other less closely. From our general knowledge of the group, we feel 

 certain that other undescribed characters, of excellent diagnostic value, will be found to 

 occur in Eoblatta. 



48 This appears to accompany reduction in the tegmina in the female, in which sex alone 

 such reduction is found in the known species of the genus. 



" In Neoblattella, the third and fourth joints are each normally much longer than the 

 distal joint of the maxillary palpi. 



MEM. AM. ENT. SOC, 2. 



