364 NEW NORTH AMERICAN MELANOPLI (ORTHOPTERA) 



Melanoplus splendidus new species (Plate XVI, figs. 5, 6 and 7.) 



This handsome insect is a member of the Punctulatus Group, 

 showing a close superficial resemblance to M. punctulatus arboreus 

 (Scudder), but differing in features of coloration, in the very 

 different and less highly specialized male cerci and the less pro- 

 duced male subgenital plate. 



Type. — & ; Jemez Hot Springs, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. 

 Elevation, 7500 feet. August 18, 1913. (John Woodgate.) 

 [Hebard Collection, Type no. 562.] 



Size medium large for the genus, form moderately robust. Vertex rather 

 decidedly depressed between the lateral carinae, which latter are continued 

 on the frontal costa to below the median ocellus, frontal costa broader and 

 shallowly depressed between the lateral carinae. Eye slightly over twice 

 as long as the infraocular sulcus. Pronotum with medio-longitudinal carina 

 very weak but percurrent on prozona though weakest in mesozonal section, 

 well developed on metazona; transverse sulci distinct, the principal sulcus 

 scarcely heavier than the others ; disk with lateral margins slightly divergent 

 between first and principal sulcus, in other portions subparallel, caudal mar- 

 gin rather broadly obtuse-angulate produced with apex rounded. Tegmina 

 fully developed, extending beyond caudal femora and abdomen, the rather 

 narrow apex broadly rounded. Prosternal spine elongate, cylindro conical 

 with apex rather sharply rounded. Furcula indicated on the surface of the 

 tergite as broad, weakly convex areas, their broadly convex caudal margins 

 projecting slightly beyond the caudal margin of the tergite, between which 

 the tergite is rather broadly cleft to near its base. Supra-anal plate shield- 

 shaped, lateral margins convex proximad, then broadly convex and moder- 

 ately convergent to apices of latero-caudal carinae where a slight emargi- 

 nation on each side occurs, the remaining distal portion with margins straight, 

 decidedly convergent, forming a rectangle with apex sharply rounded; medio- 

 longitudinal sulcus percurrent, decided in slightly less than proximal half, 

 weak in slightly more than distal half, subobsolete and very delicate trans- 

 verse carina indicated at the juncture of these portions, lateral portions of 

 plate broadly concave to disto-lateral carinae, these represented by parallel 

 rounded ridges, well developed and slightly over twice as long as broad. 

 Cerci broad at base, narrowing strongly in proximal two-fifths, margins 

 subparallel in median fifth, the width there three-fifths as great as that proxi- 

 mad, distal two-fifths moderately expanded, three-quarters as wide as basal 

 width, with a moderate upward and inward curvature; ventral margin straight 

 in proximal three-fifths, thence broadly convex to the rather broadly rounded 

 apex, situated dorsad; dorsal margin strongly concave to distal portion 

 where it is very feebly convex. 11 Subgenital plate moderately broad, apically 



11 This is seen to be a development from the same source as p. arboreus, but 

 in splendidus the disto-ventral lamellate expansion, so strongly developed 

 in that insect, does not occur, and as a result the general appearance of the 

 cerci is very different and distinctive. 



