66 THE BLATTIDAE OF PANAMA 



The genus is monotypic. Genotype: Lophometopum leptum 

 new species. 



Generic Description. — Size medium, form slender, structure ex- 

 tremely delicate for the Group Blattellites. Interocular space nar- 

 row, formed by a low but striking transverse rounded ridge; the 

 vertex and inter-ocular-ocellar areas in very different planes, the 

 latter small, feebly concave, rounding broadly laterad ; ocellar spots 

 obsolete (possibly distinguishable in fresh material) ; face broad 

 and moderately convex with lateral margins parallel to clypeal 

 suture. Eyes prominent dorso-laterad, not extending ventrad 

 below the antennal bases. Maxillary palpi very elongate; distal 

 joint short, much shorter than the preceding joints. 



Pronotum transverse; disk feebly convex, showing transverse 

 impressions cephalad and latero-caudad ; lateral margins broad 

 and scarcely declivent. Tegmina and wings fully developed. 

 Tegmina with discoidal sectors longitudinal. Wings with costal 

 veins weakly clubbed, ulnar vein with complete branches, inter- 

 calated triangle small but distinct. Dorsal surface of male abdo- 

 men unspecialized, subgenital plate symmetrical. 



Limbs extremely long and slender for the Group Blattellites. 

 Ventro-cephalic margin of cephalic femora armed with (three to 

 five) elongate (relatively slender for the Group) spines, which are 

 elongate proximad but rapidly decrease in length distad, succeeded 

 by a row of well-spaced minute chaetiform spines," terminating 

 distad in two elongate spines, the more distal the longer. Ventro- 

 caudal margin of cephalic femora armed with (three and one distal) 

 elongate and moderately heavy spines; other ventral femoral 

 margins well supplied with elongate and moderately heavy spines. 

 Ventral surfaces of four proximal tarsal joints supplied distad with 

 small pulvilli, the apices of which are produced, filiform, as in Neo- 

 hlattella. Tarsal claws with a heavy internal flange, its margin 

 serrate. Delicate arolia present. 

 Lophometopum leptum new species (Plate IV, figures i to 6.) 



This is a really beautiful insect, due to the high polish of its 

 dorsal surface, its delicate structure and pale brown coloration with 



" It is clear that, thouj^h this armament is "type B", the decided and rapid reduction 

 in length of the proximal heavy spines and the unusually wide spacing of the more distal 

 chaetiform spines show some convergence toward "type A." 



