284 NEW NORTH AMERICAN MELANOPLI (orTHOPTERa) 



basal width, tapering .slightly to distal third, which is twice as long as wide, 

 with apex rounded and external face concave, this portion similar but rounded 

 quadrate in gracilipes. Subgenital plate with median section of equal depth 

 laterad and mesad, feebly blunt conical at free margin, this weaker than in 

 gracilipes, not sufficiently developed to be termed a tuberculation.^' Limbs as 

 in gracilipes. 



Allotype. — 9 ; same data as type. [Hebard Collection.] 

 Size larger, form heavier than in male. Fastigium of vertex distinctly 

 broader and less deeply sulcate than in male. Eye slightly more than twice 

 as long as infra-ocular sulcus. Pronotum with lateral carinae even weaker 

 than in male, but slightly more pronounced than in this sex of ligneolus. Ovi- 

 positor and limbs as in gracilipes. 



Measurements {in millimeters) 



Type 



Paratypes (3) 



9 

 Allotype 19.2 4.1 2.9 4 2.8 11.9 



Coloration. — Head cinnamon, except occiput which is sayal brown and a 

 broad and sharply defined postocular band of prout's brown. Eyes cinnamon 

 brown. Dorsum of pronotvun sayal brown, paling slightly toward lateral 

 carinae, lateral lobes with a band of prout's brown occupying dorsal third of 

 prozonal portion, corresponding portion of metazona sufTused, sayal bro^^^l, 

 lower portions of lateral lobes cinnamon. Tegmina sayal brown, darkening 

 gradually to cinnamon brown latero-ventrad. Abdomen cinnamon-buff with 

 large flecks of blackish laterad on the four proximal segments. Underparts 

 ochraceous-buff. Cephalic and median femora sayal brown. Caudal femora 

 with pagina sayal brown, dorsal surfaces cinnamon with two proximal slightly 

 darker areas on inner portion, remaining portions suffused cinnamon-buff. 

 Caudal tibiae clay color. 



The small series shows little color variation. The males of greater recessive 

 coloration have the head, lower portions of the pronotal lateral lobes and dorsal 

 surface of the caudal femora cinnamon-buff, the other portions paler to a like 

 degree. 



Specimens Examined: 5; 4 males and 1 female. 



California: San Luis Obispo. 



*^ A large series of this species will, however, be needed to determine the 

 value of this character. In some species, the degree of tuberculation of the 

 subgenital plate appears to be subject to but little variation. In the closely 

 related M. nanus Scudder, however, great variation in this feature occurs. 



