398 NEW NORTH AMERICAN MELANOPLI (ORTHOPTERA) 



The insect is local in distribution, being found in colonies, and 

 is in consequence more liable to be overlooked by the collector 

 than the more generally distributed forms. The fact that it is a 

 spring form further explains why, though so widely distributed, 

 the species is poorly represented in most collections. The num- 

 ber of localities represented, and large series of specimens in the 

 Davis Collection, again gives excellent evidence of the thorough 

 and specialized field methods of our able friend. 



Melanoplus calloplus new species (Plate XVI, figs. 13 and 14.) 



The present species is a member of the Gracilis Group, showing 

 an annectant type between M. similis Morse and M. viridipes 

 Scudder. 



Compared with similis it is separated by the shorter tegmina, 

 barred caudal femora 35 and distinctive male cerci, which are 

 bicolored, much less slender in distal half, widen there and are 

 rather broadly truncate at the apex. 



Like similis, this species has a slightly but appreciably smoother 

 general facies than viridipes. In calloplus the pale and dark 

 markings are usually somewhat more contrasted than is normal 

 in viridipes, the markings of the caudal femora not as heavy or 

 dark as is usual in that species, while the male cerci are of a dis- 

 tinct type. 



Type. — cT; Collison Ridge, Bath County, Virginia. Eleva- 

 tion, 3200 feet. July 5, 1916. (M. Hebard.) [Hebard Col- 

 lection, Type no. 553.] 



Size, form and general structure as in viridipes. Fastigium of vertex and 

 frontal costa similar but slightly more sulcate, the former with lateral margins 

 weakly but distinctly rounded carinate. 36 Antennae as in viridipes, fully 

 twice as long as pronotum. Eye slightly longer than cheek 37 nearly twice as 

 long as the infra-ocular sulcus. Pronotum much as in viridipes, the per- 

 current medio-longitudinal carina weak, cut only by the principal sulcus; 38 



35 In occasional females of this species, as well as of viridipes, these usually 

 conspicuous markings are subobsolete or wholly absent. 



36 In viridipes these margins are usually very weakly carinate, material 

 from the Virginia Mountains of that species, however, showing variation 

 toward the type described above. 



37 Averaging very slightly longer in viridipes. 



38 In viridipes the medio-longitudinal carina of the pronotum is sometimes 

 cut by all three sulci or is sometimes subobsolete cephalad; it is normally 

 cut by all but the first sulcus. Larger series of calloplus will probably show 

 similar variation. 



