24 S THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



SOME ORTHOPTERA TAKEN AT MOOSE JAW, ASSINIBOIA. 



BY A. N. CAUDELL, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Last summer, on August 24th, a few hours were spent at Moose Jaw 

 collecting Orthoptera. But few species were taken, and they are here 

 listed for the locality. They were all taken on the open prairie, out a 

 short distance from the town. 



Chortophaga viridifasciata, DeGeer. Nymphs only taken. 



Phlibostroma quadrimaculattim. Thorn. But a few specimens taken. 



Gomphocerus clepsydra^ Scudd. This species was moderately 

 common. 



Arphia pseudonietana, Thom. {tenebrosa, Scudd.). Rather common, 

 but not numerous. 



Mesiobregma kiowa, Thom. A single male taken. 



Encoptolophiis parvus^ Scudd. One female specimen only taken. 

 This species does not appear to have been previously reported from 

 Canada. 



Melanoplus atlatiis, Riley. Apparently not very common. 



Melanoplns Dawsoni, Scudd. Only the short-winged variety, 

 tellustris, was taken. It occurred quite abundantly in the prairie grass. 



Melanoplus infantilis, Scudd. This was the most numerous of any 

 species noted. 



Gryllus Pennsylvaniciis^ var. neglectus, Scudd. Five specimens of 

 this insect were taken under a stone in a draw, or small hollow, on the 

 prairie. Scudder has referred this insect to the synonymy, placing it as a 

 synonym of Burmeister's G. Femisylvanims, but the smaller size and 

 shorter elytra certainly entitle it to varietal distinction. 



Nemobiiis fasciatus, var. abortwus, n. var. Hopping actively about 

 in the grass in and along the borders of the above-mentioned draw were 

 numbers of a small Nemobius, which is very similar to N. fasciatus, but is 

 uniformly darker, being nearly black, and decidedly smaller, as shown by 

 the following measurements : 



Length elytra, male 4.5 to 6 mm., female 3 to 4 ram.; posterior 

 femora, male 4 to 5 mm., female 5 to 6 mm.; ovipositor, female 6 to 

 7 mm. 



About three dozen specimens, a few more females than males, were 

 taken, and they are very uniform in size and coloration. This is the 

 small black species mentioned by Walker, on page 184 of the Canadian 

 Entomologist for July. Specimens were submitted to Prof. Blatchley. 

 who says they may eventually prove a good species. They certainly form 

 a valid variety, which may be called abortivus. Like vittatus, it is short- 

 winged. Except for the uniform black colour, it resembles the N. 

 Utahensis of Scudder. 



Mailed August 3rd, 1904. 



