130 FAMILY v.— TRYXALIN.'E. 



GENUS Gomphocerus Thumb. 



Similar to Stenobothrus except that the antennge are 

 furnished with a short depressed club at the apex, and (ac- 

 cording^ to Brunner) the tympanum is partially open. Face 

 almost vertical or sub-oblique. Antennee long, multiarticu- 

 late, filiform for three-fourths of the distance from the base, 

 the remaining joints forming a compressed expanded mass, 

 not so large in the female as in the male, terminating in a 

 point. Ocelli slightly visible. Eyes oval, slightly prominent. 

 Pronotum short; its disk, flat, tricarinate; the lateral carinas 

 sinuous, curving inward or forming an entering angle near 

 the middle; the posterior border rounded. Elytra and wings 

 as long as or a little longer than the abdomen. Abdomen 

 somewhat compressed; sub-anal plate of the male usually 

 convex below, almost triangular. Prosternum unspined, 

 smooth. Legs of medium length, and posterior femora of 

 the usual form. 



Gomphocerus clavatus Thomas. 



This and G. clepsydra Scudderseemto be the same. This 

 insect, easily distinguished from all members of the sub-fam- 

 ily Tryxalinse by its clavate antennas, which are very prom- 

 inent in the male, occurs everywhere in the prairies of Min- 

 nesota, from the Red River Valley in the north to the 

 Pipestone quarries in the south; in the former region it was 

 found in the adult stage as early as July 7. The description 

 of c/a vat MS, as given by Thomas, is as follows: Male. — 

 Small size, antennse clavate; elytra without spots. Vertex 

 scarcely expanding in front of the eyes; the margins obtuse, 

 elevated, meeting in front in an angle a little less than a 

 right angle; apex obtuse; lateral foveol^e distinct, linear. 

 Face oblique and slightly rounded; frontal costa very prom- 

 inent, not sulcate at an\' point, gradually expanding below^ 

 it and the entire face densely punctured; the lateral caringe 

 distinct; the sulcus that extends from the eye downward, 

 sharp and distinct. Antennae passing the thorax; the joints 



