notum is narrower and more transverse. Immediately below this flap 

 projects the inferior end of one of the pleural pieces; in decoratus its 

 sides are almost at right angles with the emarginated apex which 

 fits around the base of the intermediate coxae; in simplex the hind 

 edge of this piece is oblique and the apex is scarcely sinuated; the 

 next adjoining piece is almost square in this new species but sub- 

 triangular in simplex. 



Color fuscous deepened almost to ferruginous in the male in which 

 sex the elytra and abdomen are deep piceous black, almost blue-black 

 on the elytra, with the base of the abdomen and the apex of the genital 

 segments touched with fulvous. Legs fulvous with the tarsal claws 

 and the line of fine bristles on the edges of the tibiae blackish; the 

 pustulate border of the front is slightly infuscated. In the female 

 the general color is more flavous and this pale color is much more 

 extended over the abdomen and inner field of the elytra. 



In the characters of the male genitalia this species is quite dis- 

 tinct. The ventral aspect of the genital segment is much shorter with 

 the valve small and triangular, not short and transverse as in simplex; 

 the plates (stiles of some authors) are much shorter and more round- 

 ed and do not nearly attain the anal tube. In simplex the plates are 

 longer and thicker, are narrowed to an incurved pointed apex like the 

 strong stout claws of some birds, and in my specimens project almost 

 at right angles to the apex of the segment, and would about reach the 

 anal tube if depressed. Length 3 mm. 



Described from one male and three female examples tak- 

 en at Charlotte Harbor, Fla., by Mrs. Slossom. At first sight 

 this looks like a mere color variety of simplex, but the dif- 

 ferent form of the pro- and mesonotum, pleural pieces and 

 male genitalia as well as its very distinct coloring will read- 

 ily separate it. This species and simplex differ from our 

 three other known species, histrionicus STAL, rugosa BALL, 

 and bivittatics BALL, in having a pale clypeus." 



The writer has a pair of this species collected by George 

 G. Ainslie sweeping along the lake shore at Lakeland, 

 Florida, Feb. 13, 1918. 



Dr. Ball has found this to be the most common form in 

 Florida with gradations in color varying f ram the dorsata 

 stripe to the dull color of obscura and straw and orange of 

 simplex. 



Aphelonema nigriviridia BALL 

 (1926 Canadian Entomologist, Iviii, p. 244) 



The original description is here quoted. 

 "A small elongate greenish or straw colored species with black 



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