314 



W. D. FUNKHOUSER 



ment, and especially its length as compared with abdomen and wings, ' 

 have furnished valuable taxonomic data. 



The dorsal carina (fig. 41, e), as the name would imply, is the median 

 dorsal ridge which in many forms extends the entire length of the pronotum. 

 Even when not percurrent this ridge makes a valuable character in 

 description. 



The terms dorsal crest and dorsal spine (fig. 41, f) are likewise self- 

 explanatory and refer to the elevation of the type indicated arising from 

 any part of the dorsum. 



It would be impracticable to attempt to indicate the great number of 

 ways in which each of these structures may vary. It would seem, however, 

 from an examination of a large number of species and genera, that the 

 posterior structures are inclined to be more constant than the anterior; the 



posterior process, for 

 this reason, is found 

 to be available as a 

 generic character, 

 while the more va- 

 riable metopidium 

 and suprahumerals 

 are suitable for the 

 separation of species. 

 The pleiiron of the 

 prothorax (Plate 

 XXXII, 13) is joined directly to the notum without intervening sclerites. 

 Two distinct lateral sclerites are found, the episternum and the epimeron. 

 The notum projects downward between these sclerites in a triangular 

 extension, the cephalic margin of which is hollowed out to form a fossa 

 for the eye. Both episternum and epimeron are roughly triangular in 

 shape as seen from a side view, the apex of the triangle pointing upward 

 and the base forming part of the coxal cavity. Neither sclerite is subdi- 

 vided but the episternum in some forms shows a slight indentation at 

 the cephalo-ventral margin which suggests a coalescence. The pleural 

 suture is not prominent, and is very short since the prolongation of the 

 notum in this region forms a separating ridge which extends almost to the 

 lateral margin of the segment. In certain foliaceous forms, as represented 

 for exainple in many species of the Membracinae, this part of the lateral 



Fig. 41. 



FRONT AND LATERAL VIEWS OF TYPICAL MEMBRA CID 

 OUTLINE SHOWING PARTS OF PROTHORAX 



