MEXICAN ORTHOPTERA. O/ 



In 1838 the genus Vates was described by Burmeister (Haiidb., ii, 

 Bd., ii, Abth., p. 543). The type of this genus, as mentioned by 

 Saussure and Zehutuer is Vates cnernidotus Burmeister, which is a 

 synonym of Mantis subfoliata Stoll. In 1839 the genus Theodytes 

 was described by Serville (Orth., p. 151), and he placed three spe- 

 cies under it, the first one (which was the only one he was positive 

 belonged there) being foliata Lichtenstein. This name is a direct 

 synonym of subfoliata Stoll, as Lichtenstein refers to the hitter's 

 plate and figure, apparently ignorant of the fact that a name had 

 been based on the same. Accordingly, Theodytes is a direct syno- 

 nym of Vates. 



Family PHASMID^. 



Bacteria tridens Burmeister. 



1839, Bacteria tridens Burmeister, Handb. d. Eut.. ii, p. 567. 



Three specimens; two males, Cuernavaca, Morelos, ix, 1898, 

 Iguala, Guerrero, ix, 1898; one female, Cuernavaca, Morelos, ix, 

 1898. 



The males are perfectly typical specimens exhibiting the specific 

 characters to perfection. Westwood (Cat. Phasm., p. 27) states 

 that he received a female with a male of this species which he de- 

 scribed, and he asserts it was very similar to the female of B. striata, 

 which I doubt, as the female of that species never has the head and 

 thorax granulate.* The distinctive features of species of this group 

 are generally more pronounced in the female, and the males of 

 tridens have very appreciable granulations on the dorsal surface. 



A short description of the female in the collection might not 

 be out of place. 



Head and thorax rather coarsely granulate, resolving into four parallel lines 

 on the posterior part of the head. Abdomen with tip attenuate, the whole stri- 

 ate, five lines being visible from above, the central one becoming obsolete on the 

 fifth segment. Anterior femora with dorsal, ventral and lateral ridges very well 

 developed for a space of about two-thirds the entire length. Antennae reaching 

 to the second abdominal segment, possibly further, as they appear slightly 

 damaged. 



Length body "1 mm. 



Length anterior femora 18 mm. 



Length mesothorax 16 mm. 



Length metathorax 12 mm. 



* To my mind Westwood's female tridens was simply a specimen of striata col- 

 lected at the same time as his male tridens. 



TRANS. AM. KNT. SOC, XXVII. .SEPTEMBER. 1900. 



