MORGAN HEBARD 171 



the first in texanus, the second in warneri, the third in incon- 

 spicuus and annularis, the fourth in oklahomae. 



Melanoplus oklahomae new species 



(PI. X, figs. 11 to 13; pi. XI, fig. 12.) 



This insect occupies a position nearest texanus (Scudder) and 

 warneri Little, agreeing generally closely as well as in form of 

 male furcula, supra-anal and subgenital plates. The male cercus, 

 however, has the lamellate distal portion not at all symmetrical 

 with dorsal section much the more produced. The penis is very 

 different from that of either of those species, but specialization 

 of that organ, though often of very great diagnostic value, fre- 

 quently has no phylogenetic significance. 



The characters which distinguish the generally very similar 

 species of the Texanus Group are given in the preceding key. 



Type. — $ ; McCurtin County, Oklahoma. June 10, 1931. 

 [Hebard Collection, Type no. 1310]. 



Size large, form medium for the brachypterous species of Melanoplus. 

 Fastigium normal, its surface definitely concave medio-longitudinally. 

 Frontal costa weakly impressed at median ocellus, without lateral carinae, 

 its surface dorsad with minute impressed punctae. Eye large, moderately 

 prominent, nearly twice as long as the infra-ocular sulcus. Pronotum with 

 moderate precurrent medio-longitudinal carina cut only by the principal 

 sulcus, caudal margin of disk obtuse-angulate produced with apex rounded. 

 Prosternal spine moderately elongate, tapering distad to the sharply 

 rounded apex. Tegmina lanceolate, slightly longer than pronotum, slightly 

 overlapping, tapering to the narrowly rounded apices, definition between 

 dorsal and lateral fields feebly suggested. Genitalia as described in key, 

 the cercus and penis of very decided diagnostic importance. Furcula very 

 minute, well separated points. Supra-anal plate triangular, slightly broader 

 than long, its medio-longitudinal sulcus decided in proximal half, the lateral 

 portions broadly concave and lateral margins simple. Subgenital plate 

 small, the apex moderately produced and bluntly rounded. 



Allotype. — $ ; Nashoba, Oklahoma. June 16, 1934. (J. Stan- 

 kovitch). [Hebard Collection]. 



Very similar to male but decidedly larger and more robust. Eye dis- 

 tinctly less than twice as long as infra-ocular sulcus. Prosternal spine 

 shorter, its apex bluntly rounded. Ovipositor of medium length, distal 

 portion of dorsal valves short and rather strongly recurved with dorsal 

 surfaces concave, delimited proximad by a transverse ridge. 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. SOC., LXIII. 



