338 NORTH AMERICAN MELANOPLI (ORTHOPTERA) 



Gracilis and Viridipes Groups and describe a new species of the 

 Tribulus Group with a brief discussion of its relatives, based on 

 far larger series than it has ever before been possible to assemble, 

 (733 specimens in addition to several hundred previously cor- 

 rectly reported). For the loan of material, without which this 

 work could not have been accomplished, we wish to thank most 

 sincerely T. H. Hubbell of the University of Michigan, E. S. 

 Thomas of the Ohio State Museum, A. N. Caudell of the United 

 States National Museum, F. Sherman of Clemson College, N. 

 Banks of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, W. T. Davis, 

 B. B. Fulton, A. P. Morse and W. S. Blatchley. 



During a visit to the Geneva Museum in 1927 we were able to 

 study many of Saussure's types and his Pezotettix longicornis, 

 unplaceable from the original description, is found to represent a 

 species of the Viridipes Group, the essential characters of which 

 are given in the present paper. 



Although gracilis is nearer the species of the Viridipes Group 

 than any others, we consider it the sole representative of a distinct 

 group, distinguished by the following features. 

 A. Pronotum of both sexes with caudal margin transverse and 

 usually feebly obtuse-angulate emarginate mesad. Teg- 

 mina of both sexes minute, elongate, apically rounded, 

 widely separated, lateral pads. Meso-caudal projection of 

 male subgenital plate greatest ventrad. Male penis an 

 erect, stout tube terminating in two rounded triangular 

 flaps which project horizontally and diverge latero-caudad ; 

 within the tube an extremely elongate slender flagellate 

 paired process curves dorsad, then cephalad and tapers to 

 an aciculate apex. Western Pennsylvania and Virginia 

 to eastern Nebraska and Kansas; southern border of Great 

 Lakes, southern Michigan and Minnesota to northern 

 Alabama and Mississippi . . Melanoplus gracilis (Bruner) 

 A A. Pronotum of both sexes with caudal margin weakly obtuse- 

 angulate produced. Tegmina of both sexes broad, 

 rounded, subattingent to decidedly overlapping pads. 

 Meso-caudal projection (tuber culation) of male subgenital 

 plate, if present, dorsad. Male penis with large base 

 bearing cephalad two slightly divergent, ear-like, erect 

 flaps; before these and projecting from the tube are two 

 erect, spike-like processes of less or only slightly greater 

 length. Southwestern Vermont to southeastern Minne- 

 sota, Appalachian to Ozark Mountains as far south as 

 northern Georgia and Arkansas. 



Melanoplus viridipes and its allies. 



