INSECT ABDOMEN SNODGRASS 



8i 



the identity of the abdominal segments, on account of the partial or 

 complete suppression of the first segment. In order to understand 

 the morphology of the parts of the ovipositor described and figured 

 by Ekblom, the following description of a saldid species, Pentacora 

 ligata, is given as an introductory example. 



PENTACORA LIGATA SAY 



The abdomen of Pentacora (fig. 26 A) is broad and flattened, but 

 the genital region, including the seventh, eighth, and ninth segments, 

 forms a terminal enlargement supporting the ovipositor {Ovp). The 



VIRT IXT X VIIIT IXT 



Fig. 26. — ^Abdomen and ovipositor of Pentacora ligata (Saldidae). 



A, entire abdomen. 



B, genital and postgenital segments and ovipositor, showing rudimentary 

 eighth sternum beneath gonopore. 



C, first valvifer and first valvula. 



D, attachment of inner ramus of first valvula to ninth tergum. 



E, second valvifer with second and third valvulae. 



first tergum {IT) is well developed, its anterior margin forming 

 a free fold overlapping the narrow notum and postnotum of the 

 metathorax ; but the sternum of the first segment is either suppressed 

 or indistinguishably united with the second. Segments // to VII have 

 large paratergal plates (^0 forming the lateral margins of the wide 

 pregenital region of the abdomen. The spiracles of these segments 

 are situated ventrally in the lateral borders of the sternal plates, but 

 those of the eighth segment lie in the paratergal lobes of the dorsum 



