80 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. VI, 



and the membranous margin, and altogether a rather complex 

 and imposing accumulation of terms has been built up, not at 

 all contradictory, but somewhat confusing. 



It would be entirely unnecessary and out of place at this 

 point to enter into the controversy regarding the systems of 

 nomenclature of wing-veins and their respective merits, a 

 subject which has been thoroughly and repeatedly reviewed^^ 

 The nomenclature used in this study is entirely that of the 

 Comstock-Needham system, and therefore the veins and cells 

 here described conform to those represented in other work 

 done according to this system. The names ' ' costa " , " subcosta ' ' 

 "radius", "media", "cubitus" and "anal" will be used 

 throughout. Thus the "terminal areole" of VanDuzee, the 

 "third apical area" of Fowler and the "celule terminale" of 

 Fairmaire becomes cell R^ as dependent on the homology of the 

 vein R^ and will be so designated in this discussion, and this 

 same system will hold for all other veins and cells discussed. 



THE MEMBRACID WING 



The Membracidse is one of those families of the Homoptera 

 in the wings of which the corium and clavus are usually mem- 

 branous, the veins in most forms are distinct, there is practically 

 no thickening at the base of the wing, and both pairs of wings 

 are well developed (Fig. 1). These features are better shown in 

 the membracid wings than in those of any of the other Hemip- 

 tera with the possible exception of the Cicadidce. The wings 

 are well adapted for flying and the insects fly well for short 

 distances with a whirring noise. 



The fore wings are large, expanded and distinctly veined. 

 They are usually membranous throughout, but occasionally 

 show coriaceous patches and basal punctures, especially along 

 the anterior margin. The clavus^^ is distinct, the claval suture 



11. The historical discussion of the nomenclature of wing- veins is taken up 

 in detail by Dr. A. D. MacGillivray in the "Wings of Tenthredinoidea," Proc. 

 U. S. Museum, 1906, Vol. XXIX, pp. 570-574. 



Miss Edith M. Patch reviews the terminology of homopterous wing venation 

 in "Homologies of the Wing- Veins of the Aphididae, Psyllidae, Aleurodidae and 

 Coccidae," Annals Entomological Society of America, 1909, Vol. II, pp. 124-126. 



Cf. also C. W. Woodworth, The Wings of Insects. University of California 

 Publications, Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin, Entomology, 

 Vol. I, p. 142. 



12. In the hemipterous wing the basal portion consists of two pieces. The 

 term "clavus" is here applied to the narrow posterior piece which is next to the 

 scutellum when the wing is closed. This is figured in Comstock's "Manual for the 

 Study of Insects," p. 124. 



