250 NORTH AMERICAN BLATTIDAE 



Natchez, Mississippi, IX, 14. 1915. (Rehn; beaten from low oaks on hills), i 

 small JLiv. 0^,383 [Hebard Cln.]. 



Near Waco, Texas, (Belfrage), i 9, [M. C. Z.]. 



Brownsville, Tex., (C. H. T. Townsend), i ^, [Hebard Cln.]; VT, (F. H. Snow), 

 I c?, [A. N. S. P.]; VII, I &, [Bklyn. Inst.]; VII, 31, 1912, (Hebard; beaten from 

 tall weeds, in opening in river plain jungle scrub), i cf, [Hebard Cln.]. 



Esperanza Ranch, near Brownsville, Tex., VII, 30 to VIII, 2, 1904, (C. Schaef^'er), 

 3 c?, 4 9 . [Bklyn. Inst., A. N. S. P. and Hebard Cln.]. 



PLECTOPTERA Saussure 

 1864. Plectopera Saussure, Mem. I'Hist. Nat. Mex., iv, p. 173, figure of wing.^^"" 



The genus is distinctive and widely separated from those show- 

 ing nearest relationship. It is clear, however, from the form of the 

 head, specialization of sixth dorsal abdominal segment in male, 

 armament of limbs and presence of a single pulvillus on the fourth 

 tarsal joint alone, that much closer relationship exists to Chori- 

 soneura than has been generally supposed. 



Two species were originally included in the genus. A number 

 of species are now known, all of which are tropical American in 

 distribution, the majority found in the West Indies. 



Genotype: Plectoptera porcellana [BI[atta] porceUana] (Saus- 

 sure), selected by Rehn, in 1903.-^^^ 



Generic Description. — Form ovoid ; dorsal surface convex, smooth 

 and shining, suggesting certain forms of Coleoptera. Head 

 triangular, with angles broadly rounded; eyes widely separated; 

 ocellar areas not defined; ocellar spots absent. Alaxillary palpi 

 delicate; third joint much longer than fourth, fifth (distal) joint 

 in length about intermediate between these. Pronotum convex, 

 this strongest laterad; narrowly elliptical, with lateral portions 

 broad; cephalic margin truncate, caudal margin weakly convex. 

 Tegmina decidedly convex, smooth and shining, scarcely extending 

 beyond apex of abdomen; median vein distinct, paralleling dis- 

 coidal vein, from which latter spring numerous costal veins; ob- 

 lique discoidal sectors weakly indicated near anal sulcus, ^^'" obsolete 

 beyond. Wings very elongate; area of costal veins short and wide ; 

 a few (normally 4) costal veins, apparent only in certain lights; a 



^*' Incorrectly recorded by Hebard as Cariblatta lutea lutea. 

 '*^_Saussure's treatment of the genus is full and masterly. 

 ^*^ Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, xxix, p. 281. 

 '** These veins can be seen only in certain lights. 



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