368 
Psyche 
[Vol. 93 
One generally would not anticipate finding rhyparochromine 
Lygaeidae closely associated with a stream, since their diet of seeds 
would be expected to either rot or germinate on moist ground. Yet a 
highland stream, which can by flash flooding wash and concentrate 
seeds and then dry rapidly, would provide a very suitable habitat 
with a rich concentration of a seed resource to be exploited. 
Members of the genus Orthaea have apparently adapted to capital- 
ize on this resource, since two of the three known species have been 
collected in such a habitat. 
Currently, known distributions for the genus include O. consuta 
from British Guiana and Colombia, O. procincta from Ecuador, 
and O. alveusincola from Panama. As Orthaea is apparently a high- 
land genus in an unexpected habitat and thus not commonly col- 
lected, it is quite likely that additional new neotropical species may 
be found, having evolved as montane isolates. 
Summary 
A new species, Orthaea alveusincola, from Panama is described. 
Diagnostic features are presented to distinguish it and the other two 
species in the genus, O. consuta Dallas and O. procincta (Breddin). 
The type locality is described and the unusual river-bed habitat of 
the genus is discussed. A full dorsal view illustration of the holotype 
of O. alveusincola is provided. 
Acknowledgments 
I thank Dr. H. Dodge Engleman of the Coco Solo Hospital, 
Panama Canal Zone, who was a generous host and collecting asso- 
ciate during a field trip to Panama. I appreciate the loan of speci- 
mens of described species by W. R. Dolling of the British Museum 
(Natural History), London and P. D. Ashlock of the Snow Entomo- 
logical Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. I thank 
Jeffrey Sternberg, University of Wisconsin, Madison for the excel- 
lent dorsal view illustration of the holotype. This research was sup- 
ported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University 
of Wisconsin, Madison (Project No. 2578). 
