KEVtSION OF ELEODIINI BLAISDELL, 23 



when apicad to the middle it is subajncal. The fissure when present is 

 closed by the inferior pudendal membrane. 



The basal margins of the ventro-lateral plates are strongly chiti- 

 nized and together form a loose articulation at their basal angles, 

 basad to the genital fissure. 



The basal margin of each ventro-lateral plate articulates about its 

 middle with the process of the paranal plate, and is connected by 

 articulating membrane with the posterior margin of the same plate 

 (Plate 3, fig. -^a) ; dorsally the dorsal plates do not articulate with 

 each other, but on the contrary are widely separated and connected 

 only by membrane. 



The apex of each valve is separated by a fossa into two lobes, an 

 external and an internal. The external lobe is only developed in the 

 subgenus Melaneleodes; in all others of our fauna it is obsolete. The 

 internal lobe is alwaj^s developed and only atrophic in Melaneleodes. 



The fossa gives attachment and lodgment to the always short 

 cercopod. 



Each valve is more or less finely pubescent about the apex, the 

 dorsal plate is most noticeably pubescent in the subgenus Promus. 



The cerco]ioda are variable in form and size, usually mammilliform, 

 frequently compressed, punctiform in Discogenia and obsolete in 

 H etero promus. Usually penicillate. 



The pubescence on the apex is usuall}^ longer than elsewhere, and 

 the internal lobe is often somewhat penicillate. 



The valvular body is never very strongly punctate, most noticeably 

 so on the external moiety of the dorsal plate in Promus. The punc- 

 tures are rather strong in some species of Steneleodes, and the superior 

 pudendal membrane is broadly exposed. 



From the sides of the vulva the lateral pudendal membrane is 

 reflected upon the internal surface of the valve and there becomes the 

 valvular membrane (Plate 7, figs. 3y and 4v). apically, directly 

 continuous with that of the internal surface of the apex. 



The angle of reflection between the lateral pudendal membrane and 

 valvular membrane is the fornix valvulce. In some species the lateral 

 pudendal membrane passes backward directly upon the internal sur- 

 face of the valve without forming an angle of reflection. 



Function. — The edeagophore is the agent by which the repro- 

 ductive organs are brought into apposition. The apicale bj^ its sub- 

 acute apex is capable of more or less forcibl}^ separating the tergal 

 and sternal sclerites of the sixth and seventh somites and protects 

 the essential organ from injury. 



With the protrusion of the edeagus and its approximation to the 

 genital fissure, the simultaneous abduction of the clava3 forcibly ab- 

 ducts the valvula? and blocks their closure. 



