﻿498 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 102 



Calloused median line of pronotum and scutellum prominent and 

 continuous. Exocorial vein and exocorium quite pale and noticeably 

 contrasting with the darker coriimi. Black spots below abdominal 

 setigerous punctures very small, seldom larger than a spiracle. Mid- 

 ventral line of abdomen with a dark linear spot on sixth visible seg- 

 ment and frequently on fifth, fourth, and third segments. 



Length: Males, 7.3-8.2 mm.; females, 9.1-9.8 mm. 



Width at humeral angles: Males, 1.8-2.2 mm.; females, 2.2-2.5 mm. 



Antennae of male: Relative length of segments; 30:45:90:75:65. 

 Fu'st three segments as shown on plate 48, figure 47. 



Antennae of female: Relative length of segments, 35:80:70:75:65. 

 First three segments usually as on plate 48, figure 48. 



Male genitalia: Penial plates and penial vesiculae as shown on plate 

 47, figures 21, 20, and 22. 



Variation. — The specimens exammed show a wide range of variation 

 in several important characters. The most pronounced variation is 

 found in the relative lengths of the second and third antennal segments 

 of the female. Most specimens examined have the third segment 

 shorter than the second (see pi. 48, fig. 48); however, several have 

 the segments subequal and one specimen that is not otherwise different 

 has the third segment noticeably longer, the ratio of length of the 

 segments being 65:80 (see pi. 48, fig. 49). The black spots on 

 the median line of the venter range from barely perceptible on the 

 sixth visible segment to well marked on the third, fourth, fifth, and 

 SLxth. The black spots below the setigerous punctures range from 

 entirely absent to a spot having a diameter equal to one-twelfth the 

 length of the supporting segment. 



Type. — Not seen. Located in the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseum, 

 Stocldiolm. 



Distribution. — Literature records and locality data on the specimens 

 studied indicate that M. prolixa is restricted to the desert or semiarid 

 regions of Africa south of the Zambezi River. The following localities 

 were represented among the 16 specimens studied. SOUTHWEST 

 AFRICA: Okahandja. UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Prov- 

 ince: Ceres, 1,500 feet; Somerset East; Swell endam. East Cape 

 Province: Katberg, 4,000 feet. Natal: Van Reenen, Drakensberg, 

 5,500-6,500 feet. Dates of collection range from September through 

 March. 



MECIDEA QUADRIVITTATA (Signoret) 



Cerataulax quadri-viltatus Signoret, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, ser. 2, vol. 9, p. 336, 



pi. 10, figs. 9, 9, a, 1851. 

 Mecidea vittata [lapsus calami] Signoret, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, ser. 2, vol. 9, 



p. cviii, 1851. 

 Mecidea linearis, Signoret, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, ser. 2, vol. 9, p. cviii, 1851. — 



Walker, Catalogue of the specimens of heteropterous Hemiptera (Hemip- 



