ORTHOPTERA 



FAM. BLATTID^E 



SUBFAM. PHYLLODROMIIN^ 

 by R. SHELFORD 



WITH I COLOURED AND I PLAIN PLATE 



IE subfamilv Phyllodromimae forms the second division of the family of Blattidae. 



Characters. — Antennse setaceous or plumose. Head with the vertex more or 

 less exposed. Scutellum sometimes exposed. Tegmina coriaceous or corneous, fully 

 developed, reduced or scale-like. Wings fully developed, reduced or absent, costal veins 

 generally numerous, regular, parallel, rarely with a small triangular apical field, never with a large 

 folded and reflected apical area, ulnar vein with few exceptions ramose. Legs slender ; femora generally 

 strongly spined beneath, tarsi vv'ithout pulvilli; an arolium nearly always present between the tarsal 

 claws. Supra-anal lamina of both sexes of diverse shapes but typically produced and triangular; sub- 

 genital lamina of male with styles, one of which may be absent. Ootheca various in form, in some 

 genera similar to that of the Ectobiinse, in others coriaceous, carried by the female with the suture 

 directed to one side and deposited only a few hours before the emergence of the larvse. 



This subfamily on account of the ill-defined genera and the enormous number of species presents 

 more difficulties to the systematist than anj' other of the group. In the accompanying synoptical key to 

 the genera I have ventured to introduce some modifications of the systems drawn up by previous 

 authorities, but I have no great confidence in the permanency of my present views, nor any belief that 

 the key is less artificial than its predecessors. The genus Temnopteryx cannot well be separated from the 

 genus Ceratinoptera and I expect that eventually it will be found necessary to merge them. The genus 

 Phyllodromia comprising more than i5o species is so unwieldy that its subdivision is a consummation 

 devoutly to be hoped for, but such efforts as have been made are not successful and have led merely to 

 the erection of more ill-defined and highly artificial genera; Onychostylus, Desmosia, Mareta are cases in 

 point and the last I have merged in Phyllodromia seeing that it is founded on a character shewn by more 



