374 



MR. ROBERT SIIELFORD OX 



Description of a new (Sen/is and two new Species of Blattidce. 



Genus Melyroidea, nov. 



Head semiglobose, eyes small, far apart, situated on the sides 

 of the head ; antenna 1 with moniliform joints, slightly incrassated, 

 not pilose, third joint twice as long as second. Pronotum 

 quadrate, angles rounded, margins somewhat reflexed, not cover- 

 ing the vertex of the head; disc with slight elevations and 

 depressions. Tegmina densely reticulated, obscuringthe venation, 

 semi-corneous in texture, anal field scarcely distinguishable ; 

 scutellum exposed. Wings with moderate apical field, which in 

 repose is doubled on itself longitudinally and tightly rolled up, 

 not folded back over the rest of the wing ; traces of venation in 

 the lower half of the apical field. Supra-anal lamina of female 

 triangular or trigonal ; sub-genital lamina divided by a sulcus; 

 cerci variable. Legs slender, all the femora unarmed, tibiae very 

 sparsely spined, tarsi without arolia. Male unknown. 



Text-fig. 46. 



H£elyroidt a mimetica. 

 Expanded wing. The apical area is shaded. 



This is (piite one of the most remarkable genera of Blattidae 

 that has yet been discovered. The two species comprised in it 

 present in their form and coloration a curious resemblance to 

 Malacoderm Coleoptera, whilst in their structural features they 

 appear to lie intermediate between the Corydiinae and Oxy- 

 haloinae [ = Plectopterinse]. The head with its globose front 

 and vertex and widely separated eyes of small size, the cleft sub- 

 genital lamina of the female, and the naked tarsal claws are 

 characteristic features of the < lorydiinae. < >n the other hand, the 

 wing-structure is totally unlike thai of the Corydiinae, in which 

 subfamily alone amongst the Blattidae the anterior part of the 

 wing is greatly developed, the posterior part folding beneath not 

 in a fan-like manner. In Melyroideathe wing with its- prominent 

 apical area and posterior part furnished with radiating veins is 

 [18] 



