THE PHLEPSIDS OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.* 

 (HOMOPTERA CICADELLIN^) 



By E. D. Ball. 



Genus Phepsius Fieb. 



This genus was erected by Fieber for a small number of 

 European leaf hoppers with vermiculate brown or dark lines 

 inscribed on the elytra and usually with similar markings 

 throughout. 



This group reaches its highest development in the tem- 

 perate region of North America. Only a small number of 

 species extend into the more tropical regions and most of these 

 are found in the mountains of central and southern Mexico, 

 while no species is known from Central or South American 

 regions. 



The vermiculate lines will serve to separate nearly all of the 

 species of the group, while the remainder show such evident 

 relationship that they are easily placed. A few have lost these 

 vermiculations by reduction in number, while others have lost 

 them by the gradual substitution of dots in their place. 



The following subgenera are represented in the North 

 American fauna: 



Key to the vSubgenera of Phlepsius. 

 a. Head distinctly narrower than the pronotum; the lateral margin of pronotum 

 strongly carinate, long, nearly equaling the short diameter of the eye. 

 b. Head much narrower than pronotum, which is produced between the eyes; 

 vertex and front long and narrow; large active species with long narrow 



elytra lowanus nov. 



bb. Head slightly narrower than pronotum which is regularly rounding in front; 



front broader above; shorter and stouter species Texananiis nov. 



aa. Head conical, about ecjualing pronotum; lateral margin of pronotum almost 

 obsolete, never more than one-fourth the short diameter of the eye; elytra 

 usually with an angular pattern on inner part; outer margin pale, often with 



four definite spots Dixianiis nov. 



aaa. Head as widf or wider than pronotum; lateral margin of pronotum carinate, 

 one-third the short diameter of the eye or longer; elytra with patlern trans- 

 verse or wanting, 

 b. Front margin of head not produced or foliaceous. 

 c. Vertex long and flat; front flat in profile, meeting vertex in acute angle; 



margin blunt Zioninus nov. 



0. Vertex short; front sloping, convex, thin; margin rounding or acute, but 



not produced Phlepsius Fieb. 



bb. Front margin of head produced, foliaceous Paraphlepsius Baker 



* The writer was asked to vmdertake the Jas:-idye of the Biologia Centrali- 

 Americana in 1902. The material arrived in very poor shape, but the work was 

 taken up and more than half completed in the course of the next tliree years, 

 including the figuring of many species by Mrs. Ball. A change to executive work 

 at that time reduced the time possible to give to this material and so the work 

 was not completed at the date the editors set for the close of the Homoptera 

 volume. The writer then decided to publish his studies of the groups from time 

 to time, as opportunity offered, after which the material will be returned to the 

 Biologia collection. 



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