HEMIPTERA— HETEROPTERA. 



147 



third the length of mesonotum (9 : 28). Hemielytra extending to apex of 

 abdomen ; discal cell less than twice as long as vein emitted from its apex. 

 Relative lengths of anterior coxae, femora tibiae and tarsi, 37 : 58 : 32 : 18 ; 

 trochanter with a single stout bristle towards apex ; spines of femora longest 

 towards base, becoming gradually shorter towards apex. Relative lengths of 

 intermediate femora, tibiae and tarsi, 150 : 218 : 7. Relative lengths of posterior 

 femora, tibiae and tarsi, 213 : 324 : 7. Posterior surface of hypopygium con- 

 tinued in a long central spine which extends slightly beyond the apices of 

 parameres. 



Total length, 7-5 mm. 



Upolu :— Vailima : 1 8.vi.l924. 



Also recorded from Hawaii and the Marquesas (Fatuhiva). Closely allied 

 to the Philippine Ploiaria uniformis McAtee and Malloch, but apparently dis- 

 tinguished by rather larger size, the pale median longitudinal stripe down pro- 

 and meso-nota, and the shorter discal cell. 



As pointed out by Miss L. E. Cheesman, it is probable that, in spite of the 

 presence of trochantal spines, this species is more closely related to Luteva 

 Dohrn than to Ploiaria Scop. McAtee and Malloch {Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 67, 

 I, p. 49, 1925) have regarded Luteva as s5rnonymous with Ploiaria, basing their 

 argument on the intergradation, which they say occurs in the diagnostic characters 

 so far considered. This may be so, but we cannot accept their further argument 

 that one should refrain from recognising what they call an excessive number of 

 genera, because it makes the construction and use of a generic key difficult. 

 Genera should be based on phylogeny, not on convenience, and perfectly distinct 

 genera, even if they " approach the one species standard," should not be synony- 

 mized to facilitate the construction of a key. 



49, Luteva subaequalis (McA. and Mall.). 



Ploiaria subaequalis McAtee and Malloch, Phil. Journ. Sci., XXX, 1, p. 142, 1926. 



There is in Buxton's collection a single damaged specimen, which agrees very 

 closely with McAtee's and Malloch's description of this species. The genitalia 

 and part of the abdomen are missing, but the reticulate infuscation of the 

 hemielytra is very distinctive. 



Upolu : — Apia : 1 specimen, 29.V.1925. 



Recorded only from the Philippines. 



