Mr. W. L. Distant on Homoptera. 193 



difference in the face, but in the type o£ Tomaspis there is a 

 fundamental difference in the length and structure of the 

 tegmina. But when a large series of the species that should 

 be arranged under these three proposed genera is examined, 

 the differences in too many cases become evanescent and 

 relative. Stal, who originally used them as distinct genera 

 (Rio Jan. Hem. 1858), subsequently (Hem. Af'ricana, 1866) 

 treated them, with the addition of Triecphora, Amy. & Serv., 

 as synonyms of Tomaspis, and in this generic conclusion 

 he has been followed by Fowler and Jacobi. From this 

 decision I only differ by not including Triecphora, a Palse- 

 arctic and Ethiopian genus also treated as distinct by Puton, 

 Melichar, and other writers. From Berg (Hem. Argent., 

 1879) I dissent by including Sphenorhina, and agree with 

 him in excluding Triecphora. 



It is not, however, to be regarded as improbable that this 

 large and miscellaneous geuns, Tomaspis, as thus understood 

 will yet be consistently divided. The differential characters 

 given by Aniyot and Serville for their three proposed genera 

 are largely and principally confined to facial structure, and 

 these have proved a hindrance rather than a help, by mono- 

 polising the attentions of homopterists to the neglect of 

 other characters, many of which undoubtedly exist and will 

 probably be used by some future analytical student. 



Tomaspis parana, sp. n. 



Head and pronotum sanguineous ; basal half of head, two 

 spots on anterior area of pronotum — connected with the ante- 

 rior margin, — scutellum, abdomen above, and body beneath 

 black ; legs black or piceous ; face, apex of scutellum, and 

 lateral margins of prosternum sanguineous ; tegmina san- 

 guineous, a costal streak extending from base to apex (near 

 base and beyond middle not reaching the costal margin), 

 apical margin, a central longitudinal fascia, commencing 

 near middle and extending to apex, and a claval streak black; 

 wings fuliginous ; face sanguineous, strongly, centrally, 

 longitudinally ridged, moderately compressed, not termi- 

 nating in an obtuse point; rostrum reaching the intermediate 

 coxae ; tegmina narrow, more than three times as long as 

 broad. 



Var. a. — Legs dull testaceous red, apices of the femora 

 piceous. 



Long., excl. tegra., ^ 12, ? 17 mm. ; exp. tegm. c? 39, 

 ? 44 mm. 



Hab. Brazil ; Parana {E. Dukinfi eld Jones, Brit. Mus.). 



