MORGAN HEBARD 169 



PART XIV. THE TEXANUS GROUP OF THE GENUS 

 MELANOPLUS 



Discovery of a new species of this Group and realization that 

 the previously known four species have in all cases been treated 

 separately in the literature, makes it advisable to comment on 

 the characters which they share and publish a key when de- 

 scribing the fifth species, oklahomae, there giving a number be- 

 fore each to indicate the proper sequence. 



All of the species are large for the brachypterous forms of 

 Melanoplus and are very similar in general appearance. They 

 are light and somewhat reddish brown with a heavy sharply 

 defined blackish brown postocular band stopping abruptly at the 

 principal sulcus on the lateral lobes of the pronotum, the pleura 

 black with a striking oblique brownish buff band. The caudal 

 femora have two weak (rarely decided) oblique dark markings 

 on the external surface in its dorsal portion individually ranging 

 to immaculate. The caudal margin of the pronotal disk is obtuse- 

 angulate produced with apex rounded. The tegmina are lanceo- 

 late and slightly overlapping. The caudal tibiae are pink. 



All are found only from southern Kansas to south-central 

 eastern Texas in that area which intervenes between the defi- 

 nitely humid East and the typical plains. This includes western 

 Arkansas and southeastern Missouri, in which latter area none 

 have as yet been found but almost certainly occur. All are 

 probably inhabitants of the open grasslands. 



Females appear to be indistinguishable. Males may be sep- 

 arated by the following key. 



1. Supra-anal plate simple 2 



Supra-anal plate with two large longitudinal subadjacent rectangular 

 areas meso-proximad. (Cercus large, expansion curved inward and 

 twisted horizontally distad in a large irregularly trilobate lamellate 

 plate with its dorsal surface moderately concave. Exposed portion 

 of parameres very elongate, tubular, curved cephalad but not special- 

 ized at apices.) From Ben Wheeler to Walker County, central eastern 

 Texas 5. angularis Little 



2. Cercus only moderately expanded 3 



Cercus very strongly expanded 4 



3. Penis with apices of ectoparameres scarcely produced beyond the sur- 



rounding thickened dorsal margins of the dorsal lobes. Cercus mod- 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. S0C., LXJII. 



