102. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XIV . 
NOTE ON THE SEXES OF THE TINGID MELANORHOPALA 
CLAVATA STAL (HEMIPTERA). 
By H. M. Parsuiey, Smith College, Northampton, Mass. 
I have recently had occasion to examine the extensive series of 
Tingidze in the collection belonging to my friend Mr. J. R. de la 
Torre Bueno, and in going over the specimens of Melanorhopala 
clavata Stal I note that this species is peculiar in exhibiting sexual 
dimorphism to a degree unusual in the family. The males are 
smaller than the females and decidedly narrower in form, but 
the most striking difference is in the form of the antennz, which, 
in the males, are only slightly clavate, the fourth segment being 
but little thicker than the cylindrical portion of the third and the 
latter only a little, though distinctly, enlarged at apex. Renewed 
study of extensive materials, including a beautiful series of speci- 
mens collected at one time and place and kindly sent to me for 
study by Mr. Wm. J. Gerhard, makes it evident that the form 
which I described as M. obscura’ is in fact the male of clavata, 
described above. Having very few males at the time of descrip- 
tion, I did not suspect that M. clavata would exhibit sexual 
dimorphism in the structure of the antennz, a phenomenon which, 
as far as I know, is not to be met with elsewhere in the Tingide. 
Osborn and Drake have questioned the validity of MW. obscura,? 
regarding it as possibly identical with M. lurida Stal, and Gerhard 
(in hitt.), relying on his experience as a collector, has expressed 
to me his doubts regarding the value of the antennal characters 
employed in separating these supposed species of Melanorhopala, 
but hitherto the sexual relationship of the forms in question has 
not been made known. I would bring to the attention of those 
having appropriate materials the further suggestion that M. lurida 
Stal may be in reality this same male of M. clavata, although the 
dimensions originally given* might be taken to indicate otherwise. 
It is worthy of note that most of the published references to M. 
clavata, including the original description* and Osborn and 
* On Some Tingide from N. E., Psyche, Vol. 23, 1916, p. 167. 
+ Notes on Tingidz, Psyche, Vol. 24, 1917, p. 161. 
