OKTHOPTEKA OF INDIANA. 



433 



133. Gryllus amerioanus sp. nov. 



Gryllm negledm, Bl., 12, VII, 1895, 250. (Nee. Scudd. ) 



A shining black species, the female short-lDodied and thick set, 

 the male more slender. Head no broader than the pronotum, the 

 vertex prominent; but sloping rapidly downward. Pronotum a little 

 narrower in front than behind, its length contained in its greatest 

 breadth 1.3 times; the median impressed line more than usually 

 prominent, except upon its posterior fourth; the front margin trun- 

 cate or a very little concave, the hind margin slightly sinuate and 

 eiliate with black hairs. Tegmina of female covering two-thirds of 

 abdomen, shining black, sometimes with a reddish brown tinge at 

 base and along the humeral angle; their inner margins straight and 

 overlapping or attingent only on their basal halves; the apical halves 

 with the inner margin oblique or "bias" and 

 when at rest therefore widely separated. Teg- 

 mina of male usually covering three-fourths of 

 abdomen, rarely reaching its tip, the medi- 

 astinal vein with four branches. Wings repre- 

 sented by narrow thin scales. Hind femora 

 short and stout, their lower and inner sides 

 sometimes tinged with reddish brown on the 

 basal third but never with the large reddish 

 brown spot on lower side, so common in G. 

 ahhreviatus and G. pennsylv aniens. Hind tibi^ 

 dark chestnut brown, with five or six rather 

 stout spines on the outer side. Ovipositor 

 short, just equaling, or rarely exceeding by 1 

 mm. the length of hind femora, dark reddish 

 brown in color, the apex paler. 



Measurements: Length of body, male, 14 

 mm., female, 16.5 mm.; of pronotum, male, 3.5 

 mm., female, 4.2 mm.; of tegmina, male, 7.5 

 mm., female, 8 mm.; of hind femora, male, 10 

 mm., female, 11 mm.; of ovipositor, 11 mm. 

 male, 5 mm., female, 5.6 mm. 



This is the species which I formerly thought to be G. neglectus 

 Scudder, but that authority states in his latest paper on the genus 

 that neglectus is a synonym of pennsylvanicus. Moreover, I find that 

 in his original description the average measurements of the oviposi- 

 tor of neglectus are given as .28 of an inch, or 7 mm., whereas in 

 americanus they are never less than 10 or more than 12 mm. in 

 length. From pennsylvanicus, with which species it has been hereto- 

 fore confused, americanus may be readily separated by its smaller 



Fig. 109. OriiUus ameri- 

 canus sp. nov. Female. 

 One and one-fourth 

 times natural size. 

 (Original.) 



Width of pronotum. 



