MORGAN HEBARD 3 



The higher country in the vicinity of Chiriqui to the west has a 

 rich fauna, as is shown by the small collections made there for the 

 Biologia Centrali-Americana. This fauna probably contains a 

 great number of forms not found in the lowlands of Panama, many 

 of which are probably the same as those found in the highlands of 

 Costa Rica. In eastern Panama we believe that a different high- 

 land fauna will be encountered, showing the northernmost dis- 

 tribution of many of the mountain forest types which occur in 

 northwestern Colombia. 



The material here studied was assembled by the following indi- 

 viduals for the collections noted: by A. Busck, E. A. Schwarz, 

 A. H. Jennings and W. Schaus for the United States National 

 Museum, and by D. E. Narrower and the author, for the author's 

 collection. Material was also taken by J. Zetek for both collec- 

 tions. We would note that in all cases Orthoptera was collected 

 as a side issue, except by the author, whose efforts in Panama were 

 limited to a few hours of field work. The tremendous number of 

 species of Blattidae which occur in any one region in tropical 

 America is well indicated when we consider these facts. We can 

 hardly consider that more than a beginning has been made in 

 studying the Blattidae of Panama. We have, however, had an 

 opportunity to locate certain difficult genera, associate the widely 

 different appearing sexes of certain species and obtain a better 

 general understanding of the American subfamilies of the Blattidae. 



Taxonomy 



We have been able to observe certain features which we 

 believe will be of considerable value in studying this difficult family. 

 Consideration of the specialization of the dorsal surface of the 

 male abdomen, supra-anal plate, concealed genitalia and subgenital 

 plate and styles, which is found in many species, has proved to be 

 a vital necessity. In the female sex the type of subgenital plate 

 has also been often found to be extremely important, but usually 

 of generic rather than specific value. The number and type of 

 pulvilli, armament of the ventral surface of the tarsi and develop- 

 ment of the arolium has proved to be useful in many ways, while 

 the asymmetry or specialization of the tarsal claws are features of 

 importance. Many of these characters have been casually con- 

 MEM. AM. ENT. SOC, 4. 



