SB 945 L7B782 1900 ENT TH E SECOND REPORT OF THE Merchants' Locust INVESTIGATION COMMISSION OF BUENOS AIRES BY LAWRENCE BRUNER Professor of Entomology and Ornithology in the University of Nebrasl^a, U. S. A. Published in English and Spanish BY THE Commission 1900 Hunter-Woodruff Printing Co. Lincoln Sfe 1 HE SECOND REPORT OF THE Merchants' Locust INVESTIGATION COMMISSION BUENOS AIRES LAWRENCE BRUNER Professor of Entomology and Ornithology in the University of Nebraska, U. S. A. Published in English and Spanish BY THE Commission 1900 Hunter-Woodruff Printing Co. Lincoln LETTER OP SUBMITTAL. Gentlemen : — Herewith is presented a second rei^ort on the labors of the writer wdiile engaged in the study of the large Destruc- tive Migratory Locust of the Argentine Republic and sur- rounding regions of South America. This second report was thought advisable because considerable additional data has been accumulated concerning that insect since the issu- ance early in 1898 of the former report. Besides, while studying the Sclilstocerra paranensis, much information has been gathered relative to various of the other locusts native to the country. Some of these latter have also been ascer- tained to likewise cause considerable damage to both wild and cultivated vegetation. It is for this reason that they too are treated at some length here. In fact, the greater por- tion of the present report is devoted to a fairly detailed synopsis of the entire locust family as represented in the Republic. The most important reason for this treatment of the other locusts, along with the one especially studied, is that the data which makes this latter j^aper jDossible has been accumulated by the Commision and should be given to the public for whose benefit these studies were undertaken in the first place. The writer wishes here to thank the Commission as a whole, and the individual members separately, for the uni- form courtesy with which he has been treated both while in Argentina and since returning to his labors in the United States. The Sub-commission also deserves special mention for the faithfulness it has exhibited in gathering and for- warding all of the data that has enabled the writer to make the w^ork as complete as it is. In the preparation of this report it has been jDOssible for the writer to show many of the forms treated by having so good an artist as is Edna L. Hyatt at hand to make the drawings from the originals. Lawrence Bruner. REPORT. The following condensed outline will indicate to the reader the chief topics connected with the locust problem in Argen- tina that have received the attention of the Commission: iof mature insect, of uiatui'e larva or saltona. of eggs and egg-mass. r^. . ., .. s ill winter. ^'^tr)bution -; .^^^^.. ,^^,^,^^^ ^f y^^^._ of mature insect or voladora. Habits ] of young or saltona. ( — bunching throughout life. Wintering — as voladora or imago. I Method of. , o t. t-\ 4- 1 T,^ , • 1 r,^- .. bept. Oct. and Kgg-laymg • lime of year ■ ^ , .,. { One cartucho or more? ' '^' ' ( Spring — Away from wintering quarters ) Taken together form- Flights j Summer — Irregular - ing a sort of circuitous ( Fall — Toward wintering quarters ) ,iourney(des.inRept.I.) f Attacking { Trox. I eggs . . } Anthomyia. f Insects I Attacking \ Beetles, j saltona . ) Wasps, etc. l^ Attacking t Diff. Parasitic Natural enemies — voladora -j Wasps. Animals -I ( Robber flies. Other \ (4ordius.. } attack- j Saltona. invertebrates) Merimis. \ ing.. ] Voladora. I Reptiles and Amphibians. U^ertebrates ' ^^'^h-^^' , Birds. I Mammals. I Sporotri- NatiU'al enemies — fungus..-, chum. i Eiiijjusa. Climatic influences. I Diverting flj'ing mangas. Mechanical I Driving, ditching, fencing to keep away, remedies . .-^ (Gathering eggs, crushing eggs, plowing, etc. 1 Killing ) Gathering saltonas, crushing by rollers, etc. [ I Carcarana and other machines. [Gathering voladoras, — machines, etc. This outline is presented in the above compact form so as to show at a glance just what has been accomjDlished by the Commission working mostly independently from the very beginning. This independent plan of investigation was outlined purposely, so as to confirm what had been done by former investigators. The results as published in these re- ports will show how closely these tally in most cases with the published results of former and contemporary workers. ^'^^i^ite Fig. 1. — Schistocercd paranensis; mature male, saltona, and top of head and pronotnm [original]. It will be seen therefore, that the seeming disregard for the results of previous investigators was not intended as a slight, nor had the writer or the Commission the remotest idea of ignoring what had already been done by others. That there should have been the least apparent feeling of ill will or jealousy exhibited either by myelf or others, is deeply regreted by me. Any changes in or additions to the former report will be given below. Description and name. — While engao-ed in the study of the life-history and habits of this insect at headquarters in Carcarana, certain greenish saltonas were obtained that were without the characteristic black markings of the saltona of paranerms. Some of these were fed to maturity and de- veloped into the closely allied Schistocerca cancellata Serv. which is normally a Chilean insect, but which also occurs on the east slope of the Andes and even in the interior to Para, Brazil. By referring to the illustrations numbered 1 and 2 the reader can see the differences betwen the two inscets. This difference is especially discernible in the saltonas. Fig. 2. — Scliistocerca can ellata: mature female, saltoua, and top of head and pronotum [original]. Distribution. — The accumulation of data for the past two additional years does not materially change the pub- lished distribution of this Argentine locust. The maps, marked figures 3 and 4 show graphically the areas occupied during the winters of 1896, 1897 and 1898, and the warmer seasons of 1896-97, 1897-98 and 1898-99. Mangas of large destructive locusts have been mentioned by different writers as occurring in Northern Ecuador, in portions of Brazil, Chili, Bolivia, etc. Perhaps these are distinct from jiaraneii-sis in some instances at least, and cannot, A 1 ! V'-A-J Wr^^^ PARANA '?J o ni^m 6^ ^^7 SCATHAR- INA ;•-» ) \ 9^^- AY I or THE '■", RIO NBffBO /" \"" ' TERRITORY ^!^ 18S7 18S8 18SS ;^ ^^ l-i,u-. 4.- Mil]) showiiifr rt'^rioiis \ isited by Sdiistocerca ]>aranensis ihivimr the spriiijr, siiiinuer and fall months of 18!)G-'!J7, 18!)7-'98 ami 1898-"99 as indicated by the data gatliered by the Sub-commission. JLAPAZ ,-\_ B 0 ' i I V ' 1 (Ja (:ocHABA>leASA^StA c R u z , 'ORURO ^ > F0T05I / C^^^5;-^ w/^ B R A / Z I L 18S15 \//\V//\ 18S7 1 1 1 1 1 18S8 1 ^ Fig. o. — Map showing re.oioiis occupied l)y ScJiistocejX'ct para )ie 11 sis duviuif the winter months of 1896, 181)7 and IS'JS as indicated by data gathered by the .Sub-commission. 6 therefore, be taken into consideration when limiting the distribution of this insect. Especially is this liable to be true with reference to records for Ecuador and central Brazil. Habits. — Nothing further has been added to our knowledge concerning the habits, wintering or egg-laying. Though on this last mentioned topic considerable effort has been made to decide whether or not each female insect deposits but a single cartuclto, or several cartuchos of eggs at intervals during the spring and summer months. Neither has the data thus far obtained enlightened us as to whether or not a partial second brood is reared in the northwest provinces late in the fall — during the months of April and May. Bj^ compiling the data accumulated on this point and covering a period of something over three years it is found that only 12 records occur of egg-laying during the month of August, 78 records for September, 326 records for October, 116 for November, 10 for December, 14 for January, 9 for February and 5 for March, while for April there occurs no definite record and but a single one for May. From these figures it can readily be seen that egg-laying occurs chiefly in spring, and for that matter mostly within 40 or 45 days with the month of October as the height of the season. This fact in itself would jDoint quite conclusively that the rule must be but a single brood as well as a single cartucho of eggs per female. The irregularity noted later in the year could be readily accounted for by the supposition of retarded devel- opment of the eggs in many females that had become weak- ened either by disease, accident, or climatic influences during winter or early spring and later recovering sufficientlj' to migrate and develop their eggs. The late layings in the northwest provinces are as jqX, hard to account for unless we are led to believe as Mr. Oli- ver C. James intimates in a letter. ''From Rioja and Cata- marca reliable reports of locusts depositing eggs in Febru- ary and March were received. These were, doubtless, the progeny of the mangas which were hatched in these locali- ties at a little later jjeriod last year. ' ' Flights. — But little additional data of such a nature at least as to change what has been recorded under this head has accumulated during the intervening period. Mr. W. G. Davis, of the Meterorological Bureau, Cordoba, has sub- mitted the following remarks : "A few general considerations in connection with the flight of locusts which I think we may assume as facts: — 1st, that in the southern Hight in si3ring, the locust travels much faster than it does on the return Hight in the autumn, or lat- ter part of summer. ::^nd. In the spring it generally flies during the warm hours of the day, when it takes advantage of the greater velocity of the wind : whereas, on its return to the North, it rises about sunset, travelling in the hours when there is little if any wind. ord. The direction of the flight in regard to the direction of the wind varies according to the velocity of the wind. "Now, keeping these facts in view (provided they are such) let us look at the salient features of the wind condi- tion, taking our Cordoba results a characteristic of those pre- vailing over the larger part of the Pamj)a region, and these will practically hold good for the region to the north and northwest from whence the locusts start in the Spring. ' 'We note that the maximum movements for both the north and south winds takes place in the months of August and September, so that at the season when the locust is leaving its hibernating grounds, it would be just as easy for him to make his way north as south, /. e., the wind would help him as much on one course as on the other : thus, it would seem that it is purely instinct that leads the locust back to the region where it was produced, also that it shapes the course like a sailor both in flying before it and tacking and is in a hurry to reach his destination, making shorter stops on the journey and travelling in the hours when the wind will most assist its flight. I may be entirely wrong in the above supposition — I do not assert them as facts — but merely l^resent them for your consideration." Natural Enemies. — Birds, Insects and other Ani- 8 MAL8. — In the letter accompanying the data accumuhitecl by the Sub-commission Mr. Oliver C. James, of Carcarana, F. C. C. A., writes as follows concerning' some of the natural enemies of the locust : ' 'There was also a marked increase in the number of birds, and the toads in all j^arts of this province particularly ap- peared in almost alarming numbers, so that the work of destruction carried on by these unobtrusive friends of the agriculturist was quite an appreciable factor in the w^hole country. The most noticeable feature in this increase of lo- cust destroyers was the number of beetles (Trox — "claiiiiiil''^) to be found wherever the egs's w^ere deposited. Almost as soon as the female locust began perforating the ground, cer- tainly immediately after the eggs were laid, the cJidiiiin put in an appearance, and as many as 20 to 30 of the beetles had been seen at work by close observers, in the earth about one 'bed' or cluter of 'cartuchos. ' " Among the specimens of these champies that were collected by the writer or by the various correspondents of the Com- mission during his sojourn in Argentina, the three following species have been recognized; viz., Trox f^uberof^us Fabr., Trox aeger Guer., and Trox piUulttrhis Germ. These occur throuhgout the entire Pampa region, and their numbers are in the order named. They are a natural check to locust in- crease that appears to be uncontrollable by man, and there can be little doubt of their value in this direction. Mr. James also adds that "From nearly every point re- ports indicate the presence of the long thread-like w^orm * {3Ier)fns or Gordu'iH) and the short stocky grub (Tachina fly, — "Jachim") in the body of the locust — both in the saltona as well as in the voladora. The latest reports regarding the recently winged locust state that many are infested with the 'guzano' (the fly larva.)" *l)r. H. H. Ward of the University of Nebraska, who is a re.'oyiiizeil specialist on this lii-ou}) was to have prepared a i)aper foi- tliis report on the above nicntioncd worm. Init was prevented from dointf so on aeeount of press of otlier duties. 9 In addition to the insect enemies of ixiriieii^is mentioned in former reports, it migiit be of interest to know that at least one species of the larii'e bluish wasps with yellow wings of the o-enns Pcpsis is known to attack it. Master William Thomas, a very careful observer of insects at Carcarana, in- formed the writer that on more than one occasion he had seen these large wasps dash into a cluster of saltonas and sting one after the other, and then deliberately select one from among them and malve off with it. Since there are several species of the genus J^epsi.s to be found at that locality the exact species was not determined. ^^3 3 ^9 feFPl pjU ^^al *^^g]w >,> ^B ^B Fi^. 5. — Deail saltmias of ScJiistucerca parauensis covei'ed with the ( 'nrcaiaim Funtrus. Functus Diseases. — Nothing further of note seems to have developed concerning the effectiveness of the different insect attacking fungi as a means of combating this insect. 10 At least two such fungi have frequently been observed to attack it, and at times, with such persistence as to materi- ally lessen the hordes of insects in certain localities. Up to the present time, however, no definite favorable reports have been received of its successful artificial distribution. Mr. James writes that "Experiments made with the 'funous Carcarana' gave no definite results, although the season was favorable for the action of the fungus, having been humid almost continuously. There have been no man- gas of locusts infesting the immediate locality of last year's development of the fungus disease, but between this jDlace and San Geronimo the evidence of hundreds of dead locusts from a manga which was detained by stress of weather indi- cates that the fungus had developed there, all being of the characteristic bright red colour and more or less desicated, notwithstanding the prevailing moist condition of the atmos- phere." This would indicate that the fungus is still active in the country, and that, under the proper conditions will take hold of and destroy locusts. The SchiHtocerca paranenHh- seems to be most subject to its attack, since but three other species were found killed by it during the writers careful search for others while in the country. These were ZonioiKxIa farsata, Diponthm^ comiinotns and Bichrop/us clo)i(jatus all of which are more or less abundant and inclined to become destructive at times. These insects are figured in the second portion of the present report. Other sjDecimens of the destructive locust that had evi- dently been killed by another of the fungous diseases were encountered by correspondents of the commission. Mr. James writes that "several specimens of locusts were sent to you by mail which had evidently died from the effects of the growth of an external fungus of a light ash colour, which almost completely enveloped the after part of the body. This had been observed as a cause of death during several years previous to your coming to the country, but none were reported here during the period of your investigations. " 11 Just what this last mentioned fungus is has not been as- certained, since the specimens above referred to must have been lost. The South African locust disease has been tried with but poor results, save as reported in connection with the de- structive locust of that country. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF LOCUSTS OR GRASSHOPPERS OF ARGEN- TINA, TOGETHER WITH DESCRIP- TIONS OF NEW FORMS. Incidentlaly while studying- the migratory locust of Ar- gentina, the writer made notes on a number of the various other species of locusts found in the Republic that came under his observation. He also had collections of these in- scets made in several portions of the country. Additional material was likewise obtained from Dr. Hugo Stempelmann of Rosario, - Sante Fe, Federico Schulz, of Cordoba, and Masters Oliver and William Thomas of Carcarana, F. C. C. A., thereby bringing together a sufticient number of forms to at least indicate, in a general way, what sort of a locust fauna occurs here. The results were so satisfactory that about a month before leaving Argentina for the United States the writer conceived the idea of preparing* a paper on the "locusts of Argentina" which should, so far as possible, contain a mention of all the described species found in the country, along with descriptions of any possible new forms that might be brought together for such a purpose. Efforts were therefore made to secure the material contained in both the National and La Plata museums for study so as to make this paper as nearly complete as possible. This last mentioned project failed, hence the species represented in these two collections are not recorded here, although several rare and perhaps additional new forms are known to be represented. The present paper has been suggested chiefly on acco unt of the number of other species of these insects that have heretofore shown a tendency to increase to such abnormal 14 numbers as to become local pests. Each of these will be described more or less fullv in connection with its name in the proper place. The two papers on Argentine Orthoptera by Dr. E. Giglio-Tos of Torin, Italy, have been of much value in form- ing a basis upon which to build. The drawings for the illustrations used here were made by Miss Edna L. Hyatt, Artist for several of the departments in the University of Nebraska. The following table for the separation of the principal groups of subfamilies of locusts along with such as follow will aid the reader in obtaining the names of any of these in- sects mentioned here and that may come under his observa- tion. TABLE FOK DETERMINING THE SUB-FAMILIES OF ARGENTINA LOCUSTS. A. Claws of feet without cushion or arolium between them: pronotum extendintj over the abdomen; tegmina or front wings h)l)iform. TETTIGIN^E. AA. Chiws with cushion or arolium present; not extending over the abdomen, b. Antenna' or feelers shorter than the front femora or thighs. c. Head short, compressed in front. UMASTACINiE. ce. Head greatlv elongiited, bodv apterous or subai)terous. PKOSCOPIXiE. bb. Antenna' longer than the front femora. e. Posternum or breast between base of front pair of legs smooth, not provided witli a tubercle, swelling, or spine d. Fastigium of the vertex but little declivious, meeting the face in a more or less wcli-detined angle, the face usually very obliciue. Wings as a rale without a dusky band. TKYXALINyE. dd. Fastigium of the vertex rounded at its point of junction with face, the latter vertical or nearly .so. Wings when present usuallv with coloretl disk and well defined dusky band . 0 1 :i> IPO 1 ) 1 N .K. cc. Posternumor breast between base of front pair of legs laniinately elevated in front, tubercnlate or spined. d. F'oveohe of the vertex above, contiguous, forming the apex of the fastigium (Fig. 15). Rather clumsy insects, usually with- out, or with abbreviated wings, but occasionallv with these appendages complete. PYRGO^KNiPH I N.^j] dd. Foveohe of the vertex lateral, never forming the ajjcx of the vertex, often closed behind or entirely w.uitiiig. I'rostcr- num distinctlv spined or tubercnlate. Winu- varion-lv formed. ACHIDI IN /fri. 15 SUB-FAMILY TETTIGINAE. This sub-famtly of locusts is represented in Argentina by a comparatively small number of inconspicuous insects none of which ever become sufficiently numerous to cause any particular damage. They all live in rather damp localities along the margins of streams or in the vicinity of swamps, where they may be found in greater or lesser numbers upon the mud flats. These insects are known as "Grouse Lo- cust.s" and are represented in the Republic by less than a dozen species belonging to the following genera as indicated by specimens and records. They may be determined by the table for the separation of genera as given herewith. TABLE OF GENERA. A. Front thighs more or less carinated above: front margin of pronotnm in middle not advanced upon the back of head, b. Body, even of the female, quite slender, the a])ex of pronotnm greatly extended beyond the tip of hind femora. NKPHKLE Bolivar. bb. Body in -both sexes obese, the apex of pronotum not at all or but little extended beyond the tip of hind femora. PAKATETTIX Bolivar. AA. Front thighs not compressed, rather broadly and distinctly grooved: front margin of pronotum in middle angulate and advanced upon the occiput. TETTIGIDEA Scudder. GENUS NEPHELE, BOLIVAR. Xephele gracilis n. sjd. Closely related to N. fKir/ida Bol. but considerably smaller. Antennae with last or terminal joint the same color as the rest ; the vertex as in that species. The pronotum extending nearly one- half of its length be- yond the tij) of the hind femora, its median carina laminately elevated in advance of the humeral angles. Color dark brownish fuscous. In some specimens more or less marked with the usual blotches of black and ochraceous on the disk between the humeral angles. Length: of body, d", 6 mm, V , 8 mm; of pronotum, d' , 12 mm, ? , 13 mm; of hind femora, d, 2 mm. ? , 5.25 mm. I have seen specimens of this insect collected at Cordoba (F. Schulz), and others from Paraguay and Territory of Formosa, Argentina (Dr. H. Stempelmann). 16 GENUS PARATETTIX, BOLIVAR. TABLE FOR SEPARATION OF SPECIES. A. First and third joints of hind tai'si of eqnal length Carina' of the femora entire. peruviaiius Bol. AA. First joint of hind tarsi longer than the third. Carinii' of the femora undulate, b. Carina' of anterior femora undulate. Pronotum generally shorter than tip of hind femora. Pronotum with carina on anterior por- tion rather high. Borellii (Tiglio-Tos. bb. Carina' of anterior femora leaf-like. Pronotum greatly surpass- ing tip of hind femora. ciieiiiiclotiis Burm. P. penivkiims Bol. This locust has been taken at San Lor- enzo, m the province of Jujuy. (Gi^lio-Tos.) P. oiemidotus Burmy Giglio-Tos also rej^orts that a speci- men from the same locality has been referred with doubt to this species. P. Borellii Giglio-Tos. This insect has been collected in a number of localities, as San Lorenzo, Jujuy, Tucuman. Cruz del Eje, Cordoba, Carcarana, Rosario, and Buenos Aires. It is evidently the most abundant species found in the Rejiublic, and occurs in two forms as reagrds pronotum length. It can at once be recognized by the rather prominent tubercles on the outer face of the hind femora which, when observed from above, project considerably beyond the other portions of these legs. Giglio-Tos, in his report on the Orthoptera of the "Viaggio del dott. Alfredo Borelli nella Republica Argentina e nel Paraguay", referred a single specimen of this insect with much doubt to ParatetUx tolfecus Sauss. (Bolletino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della R. Univer- sita di Torino, Vol. IX, No. 184, p. 5.) but in a later paper has described it under the above mentioned name. GENUS TETTIGIDEA, SCUDDER. TABLE FOR SEPARATION OF SPECIES A. Body obese, the ])ronotum extending but little if any Ixiyond tip of hind femora. ' nuilticostata Bol. A. v. Body graceful, the pronotum greatly surpassing the tip of hind femora. j»-va<'ilis Brunei-. 17 T. niu/f/rostafa Bol. This insect is quite common from Tucuman northward through the j^rovinces of Salta and Jujuy. (Giglio-Tos. ) Tettigidea gracilif> n. sj). A beautiful, very slender, dark br£)wn species with long pronotum in which the supplemental carinae are continuous and nearly or quite as prominent as the middle and lateral ones. Vertex somewhat advanced in front of the eyes, the sides rounded, median carina promi- nent, considerably advanced in front of the sides where it unites with the frontal costa the sulcation of which begins on a level with the vertex. Face somewhat oblique. Last joints of palpi w^hite and very conspicuous. Pronotum angulate in front and terminating in a rather prominent spine which projects forward upon the occiput beyond the middle of the eyes. Tegmina rather long, narrow, and pro- vided with a whitish cicatrice near the apex which is roundly and obliquely truncated from below. Valves of the ovipositor unusually long, straight and slender, espec- ially the lower pair which are dagger-like and almost with- out teeth. Length: of body, 11 mm; of jDronotum, 18.5mm; of hind femora, 5.5 mm. Only a single female specimen of this insect has been seen by the writer. It was captured on some bags of grain on the decks of a river steamer lying at anchor near the wharf of Corrientes. SUB-FAMILY EUMASTACINAE. Thus far this sub-family is not definitely known to exist by actual observation within the boundaries of the Repub- lic ; but, since several species have been taken in the closely adjoining portions of Paraguay and Bolivia, it may be taken for granted that at least one or two forms will occur in the northern portions, as for example the territories of Formosa and Chaco, and the jorovinces of Salta and Jujuy. These insects, like the representatives of the preceding sub-family, never become sufficiently numerous to cause damage to 18 cultivated vegetation, hence need not be taken into serious consideration in a treatise on destructive locusts. The f olow- ing three or four species maj^ be looked for in the territory mentioned above. TABLE FOR DETERMINATION OF GENERA. A. Fastigium of the vertex very narrow, scarcely or not at all ])rojecting in advance of the eyes. EUMASTAX Burr. A A. Fastigium of the vertex wider and more or less ])rojectlng in ad- vance of the eyes. MASYNTES Karsch. GENUS EUMASTAX, BURR. This generic name has recently been suggested by Mal- colm Burr (Anales de la Sociedad Espanola de Historia Natural, Vol. XXVIII, 1899) in place of Mastax Perty, which had been used several years before in Coleoptera. This being the tyi3ical genus of the sub-family necessitated the changing of that name also. TABLE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE SPECIES. A. Apex of the vertex above the eyes, when viewed from the side, not visible. Tegmiua and wings fully developed. Posterior femora irregularly black spotted. pardaliua Burr. A A. Apex of the vertex above the eyes when viewed from the side ])lainly visible. Detiexed lobes of the protonum with the anterior angle obtuse. versicolor Burr. Eumafitax pardallna Burr, Essai sur les Eumastacides, p. 51. This insect was described as coming from Paraguay, and is liable to occur in northern Argentina. EumoHtax versicolor Burr, loc. cit. p. 54, also a Paraguayan species, and might likewise occur in the Territory of the Chaco. GENUS MASYNTES, KARSCH. TABLE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE SPECIES. A. Tegmina lobiform, elliptical, the apex broadly rounded. Pronotum truncate behind, the middle minutely notched. Borellii Giglio-Tos. AA. Tegmina and wings perfectly developed. Pronotum "rounded behind, the middle not notched. tigTi.s Burr. iVmyntes Bm-elUi Giglio-Tos, Boll. Mus. Torino, Vol. XII, No. 802, p. 17, 1897. 10 This i^eculiar locust has been taken at San Pedro, Par- aguay (Giglio-Tos) and is liable to occur in the Chaco country. 3f(/si/n.fe-s tigris Burr, Essai sur les Eumastacides, p. 62. Like the preceding species this is a Paraguayan locust to be looked for in the territories of Formosa and Chaco. SUB-FAMILY PROSCOPINAE. As indicated in the table for determining the sub-families of locusts it will be seen that the insects belonging to this sub-family are rather long, wingless, and resemble to a cer- tain extent the different species of walking sticks, or stick insects. Thus far there have been reported from Argentina thirteen distinct species. They belong to the two genera that may be separated by the accompanying table. TABLE OF GENERA. A. Pronotum cylindrical, not separated from the prosteruum by longitu- dinal lines. Body comparatively heavy in the female: antenna^ nearly as long or a tritle longer than the vertex. TI:TAN<)HHYXCHI S Bmnner. AA. Pronotum more or less flattened from a))ove. divided from the pro- sternum by a longitudinal line. Bcjdy long and slemler even in the female; the vertex in both sexes advanced beyond the tip of the antennae. CKPHALOCOEMA Serville. GENUS TETANORHYNGHUS, BRUNNER. TABLE FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE SPECIES. A. Rostrum of the female distinctlj^ shorter than the remainder of head, attenuated towards the apex. liumiHs Giglio-Tos. AA. Rostrum of the female distinctly longer than the remainder of head. b. Rostrum with the apex sti'ongly clavate, posterior tibi.-v armed above with 14-22 spines on the inner and outer rows. Borellii Giglis-Tos. bl). Rostrum attenuate towards the apex. Posterior tibia' armed above with 13 spines on the inner and outer rows. aiigustirostris Brunner. T. /lumilis Giglio-Tos. San Lorenzo, Province of Jujuy and northward. (Giglio-Tos.) T. Borellii Giglio-Tos. Same localities as the xn-eceding, and likewise Bolivia. (Giglio-Tos. ) 7'. (ntf/ustiro-'^tris Brunner. San Jose, Republic of Argen- tina. (Brunner.) 20 GENUS CEPHALOCOEMA, SERVILLE. TABLE FOR SEPARATION OF THE SPECIES. A. Rostrum of the vertex scarcely as long as or but little longer than balance of head. Protonnm punctulate or smooth. Tibite above on both sides with not more than sixteen spines, b. Rostrum of the vertex much shorter than the remainder of head. Abdomen tive-ridged. costulata Burm. bb. Rostrum of the vertex distinctly shorter than or but little longer than remainder of head. Abdomen not tive-ridged. c. More robust: rostrum pyramidal, acuminate, viewed from the front narrowly lamellate. Antenn;e of female greatly surpassing the rostmm. Borellii Giglio-Tos. cc. More slender: rostrum with the sides parallel, d. Rostrum linear, obtuse, viewed from the front narrowly cruci- form. Attenn.-e of female a little surpassing the rostrum. Caizana Giglio-Tos. dd. Rostrum quadrangular, obtuse, as long as (female) or longer (male) than the rest of head. oalainus Burm. AA. Rostrum much (two or more times) longer than the remainder of head b. Protonum longer than the head. c. Protonum with the anterior margin not tuberculate. d. Rostrum less than twice the length of remainder of head, mod- erately dilated toward the apex. obtiisa Giglio-Tos. dd. Rostrum fully twice as long as remainder of head, strongly dilated toward the apex. niag'iia Giglio-Tos. cc. Pronotum with the antei-ior margin bituberculate. gigantea Giglio-Tos. bb. Protonum shorter than the head. c. Rostrum less than four times as long as remainder of head, d. Rostrum a tritle more than twice as long as remainder of head: the anterior femora about two-thirds as long as pronotum. teretitiscula Brunner. dd Rostrum three times as long as remainder of head: the ante- rior femora a trifle longer than the pronotum. lancea Burm. cc. Rostrum more than four times as long as remainder of head. liiieata Brunner. Fig. 6. — Cephaloeoema costulata.: female. C. costulata Burm. This species which occurs over the greater part of the Republic north of tlie Rio Colorado is quite variable in color. (Collections of Stempelmann, Schulz, O. Thomas and others.) 21 ('. BorelUi Giglio-Tos. This insect was described as Prosarthria BorelUl by Giglio-Tos (Boll. Miis. Torino, Vol. IX, No. 184, p. 4, 1894.) It probably occurs in the region embraced in the territory of Formosa. C. Calzana Giglio-Tos. Caiza, in Bolivian Chaco, adjoining the northern iDortion of Argentina. (Giglio-Tos.) C. caUiuLKs Jiuviw. Northern Argentina. (Burmeister. ) C. oWi-^sa Giglio-Tos. Provin'::;e of Jujuy. (Giglio-Tos.) C. w«r/;;« Giglio-Tos. Province of Jujuy. (Giglio-Tos.) (J. gigantea G\g\\o-^os. Province of Jujuy. (Giglio-Tos.) ('. teretmscula Brunner. Resistencia, Chaco. (Gigiio-Tos.) ('. lancea Burm. Entre Rios (Burmeister); Cordoba. (Collection P. Schulz and H. Stempelmann. ) ('. luieata Brunn. Mendoza in La Plata (Dohrn's Collec- tion. ) SUB-FAMILY TRYXALINAE. The insects belonging to this sub-family are much more numerous than are those of any of the preceding sub-fami- lies ; and, in some instances, become sufficiently numerous to warrant their being classed as destructive. In Argentina we have so far found species which belong to the genera named in the following table for their separation. Several of these genera are herewith described for the first time, while a few of the species also are made known to science in this paper, they not having been recorded or described by any former writers. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE GENERA. A. Foveohi? of vertex below or absent. Faee usually very oblique, b. Antenna' with the joints depressed, more or less ensiforui. e. Wings of male more or less broadly fenestrate, d. Sides of the fastigium strongly rounded, the apex not acumi- nate. Tegmina acuminate or decidedly obliciuely truncate. Posterior femora with the apical angles horizontally ])ro- duced, acuminate, e. Head conical: face moderately obliipie. Foveohc of the vertex indistinct, triagonal. f. Vertex longer than the eyes. Tegmina of male broader than thelength of the pronotum. Winu's of male vcrv broadly fenestrate. HYALOPTEHVX Charp. 22 ft. Vertex shorLer than the eyes. Tegminaof male narrower than the length of pronotum. Wings of male less Ijroadly fenestrate, g. Tegmina obliqnely truncate at apex; wings hj'aliue and more or less infiisc-ated. Pronotum with the lateral carin;>? continuous uninterrupted, h. Larger, general color green. 31 ETA LEFT E A Brunner. hh. Smallei", general color testaceous or ferruginous. OKPHULA Stal. gg. Tegmima acuminate, wings tinted with dilute red. Pronotum with the lateral carina- interrupted. EUTKYXALIS Bruner. dd. Sides of the fastigium straight or but gently rounded, the apex more or less acuminate. Temina broadl}' rounded or somewhat truncate. Posterior femora with their angles roundly detiexed. e. Fastigium of the vertex above depressed; without a longi- tudinal carina, f. Lateral carina' of pronotum more or less converging near the middle. The sides of pronotum compressed: tegmina and wings fully developed, g. Wings tinted with yellowish-brown: the tegmina rather broad. ' PAKOHPHULA Bruner. gg. Wings transparent, sometimes more or less infuseated: tegmina narrower. ORPHULELLA Giglio-Tos. ff. Lateral carin;e of pronotum not converging near the mid- dle. The sides of pronotum not compressed. Tegmina and wings usuallv more or less abbreviated. DICHROMORPHA Morse. ee. Fastigium of the vertex above rounded, provided with a longitudinal carina. f. Wings with the anterior ulnar vein bi'anched at base. An- tenn;v long, clavate in the male. Wings red and black. TOXOPTERUS Bolivar, ff. Wings with the anterior ulnar vein not branched at base. Antenua> long, not clavate in male. Wings hyaline, more or less tinted with carmine at base. FENESTRA Brunner. cc. Wings of male not fenestrate, the adial veins not incrassateand constricted on apical third. Pronotum with lateral carina^ gentl.y diverging posteriorily: and with a pair of supplemental carina' on disk. Antenna' sub-ensiform. Front stronglv ob- lique _ SIXIPTA "Stal. bb. Antenna? filiform. Lateral carina? of pronotum parallel; supple- mental carina' absent. AMBLYTRDPIHIA Stal. AA. Foveohe of vertex visible from above, always present. Face usu- ally more nearly vertical than in the alternate category, b Inner apical spurs of hiud tibia' subeipial in length. Antenna' at least of male nearly or quite as long as hind femora, c. Wings colored. Basal joints of antenn:e depressed. Lateral carina' of pronotum converging toward the middle. Tegmina without trace of intercalary vein. DICHROATETTIX Bruner. 23 ce. Wings transparent. Basal joints of antenna' not depressed. Lateral carina' of pronotnni nearly parallel. Tegmina with the intercalary vein more or less plainly developed. STAUKORHECTUS Giglio-Tos. bb. Inner apical spurs very uneb. Size smaller. Lateral carina' of pronotum somewhat interrupted near middle, less stronglj'^ diverging posteriorly. intricata Stal. AA. General color green. Discal field of tegmina varied with black. eleg-aiis Giglio-Tos. 0. punctata BeGeer. Resistencia, Chaco. (Giglio-Tos.) 0. intricata Stal. Buenos Aires (Giglio--Tos) : Cordoba (Schulz) and other localities. O. elegans Giglio-Tos. Resistencia, Chaco (Giglio-Tos): Cordoba (Schulz); Tucuman (Bruner. ) GENUS DICHROMORPHA, MORSE. I), anstralis n. sp. The collections of Masters Oliver and William Thomas at Carcarana contain several specimens of an insect that with- out doubt can be referred to the genus Dichroniorpha. These specimens certainly are not specifically identical with the 29 DidiroiiiorplKi vli'idix found so abundantly throughout the United States and portions of Mexico. The following de- scription is therefore ajjpended : Antennae rather short with the joints somewhat depressed basally; fastigium of the vertex projecting in advance of the eyes about half their lesser diameter ; the frontal costa gently sulcate from between antennae to clypeus ; lateral carinae of face not prominent, sinuate, and diverging to corners of face ; eyes small, rounded behind, nearly straight in front and somewnat acuminate above; loveolae of vertex but gently sulcate. Pronotum very gently comjDressed on the sides, the lateral lobes slightly bulging; the three carinae distinct, the lateral ones gently diverging from anterior margin to the posterior : last transverse incision a little behind the middle, jDOsterior edge partly angulate; tegmina and wings va.rying in length from two-thirds that of the abdomen to considerably surpassing it, their apex rounded. Posterior femora moderately heavy, compara- tively short, and but little surpassing the tip of abdomen. General color either green or dull wood brown, with indica- tions of a slight dusky band on sides of head, back of eyes and upper portion of lateral lobes of pronotum; also a slight blackish line on upper edge of knees of hind femora. There is also an indication of dusky markings at the sides of basal segments of abdomen and meso-and metathorax. Length: of body (female) 2o mm; antennae 5mm; of pronotum 4 mm; of tegmina lU to 15 mm; of posterior femora 10.5 to 11 mm. This insect is rather rare in the vicinity of Carcarana and Roldan where it occurs along railroad tracks and in the vi- cinity of cultivated or disturbed ground in a similar manner to that of our North American form. Sjiecimens were also seen from Rosario, Santa Fe. Dr. Giglio-Tos in his report on the Orthoptera of the Bolivian Chaco and of the Rei^ublic of Argentina mentions having taken sj:)ecimens of D. virklix Scudd. at San Lorenzo in the province of Jujuy. Whether or not they were of the same sj^ecies as the present I cannot say. 30 GENUS TOXOPTERUS, BOLIVAR. If this genus of the Tryxalinae occurs at all within the confines of Argentina it will be near the Bolivian frontier. It has been included in the table of genera on account of the similarity in color between Toxopteni^ nuDiatns Bolivar and a new^ form from several localities in Cordoba and Santa Fe. GENUS FENESTRA, BRUNNER. TABLE FOR SEPARATION OF THE SPECIES. A. Sides of pronotum gently diverging posteriorily in both sexes: the median carina dusky, head not espeeiallj' large, no wider than front edge of pronotnm. b. Larger. Anterior field of male wings very broadly fenestrate: the posterior field colored throughout pulchripeiiuis Bruner. bb. Smaller. Anterior field of male wings narrowly fenestrate: the posterior field colored on basal half. intermedia Bruner. AA. Sides of pronotum parallel in male at least, the median carina of same color as disk. Head comi)aratively lai'ge, a little wider than front edge of pronotum. W.ngs hyaline. argentina Bruner. F. 'pulenripennis, n. sp. Body slender; general color dull brownish testaceous varied with green; antennae in male subensiform, in female strongly ensiform; lateral carinae of pronotum straight, slightly diverging posteriorly in both sexes; the median carina dark browni or black; dorsal portion of head, pronotum and folded wangs varying from brown to green in female, brown in male ; sides of j^ronotum and head with body browaiish testaceous in female, green becoming mixed with brown on cheeks and metathorax in male ; front mar- gin of tegmina in both sexes broadly marked with green ; immediately back of this is a rather broad dark stripe more or less interrupted by the heavy white cross-veins found in this particular region ; balance of wing browm; hind wings with the basal portion bright vermillion, becoming more dilute tow^ards ai3ex ; anterior field broadly fenestrate, the cross-veins on basal portion being angled and directed towards the apex of wing anteriorl3^ Length of body : d 24 to 25 mm, ¥ 30 to 32 mm : prono- tmii, d' 4.5 to 4.75 mm, ¥ 5.5 to 6 mm; tegmina, d and 9 22 mm: hind femora, c? 15 mm, ? 18 mm. Found on the open camp early in December among dry and dead grasses. A very active insect and difficult to cap- ture. When flying the males are exceedingly noisy. F. intermedia n. sp. A slender species with the sides of pronotum gently ex- panding towards the posterior edge : head rather small, the ai3ex of tegmina gently exjianded and rounded: antennae in male flattened at base, in the female dagger- like. General color of male brownish testaceous, of female green : median carina testaceous to brown : base of hind wings deep rose color ; anterior portion fenestrate but less broadly so than in pKlchripennis. The transverse veins in this portion of the wing less numerous than in the other species — about nine in number. Length of body : <^ 20 mm; 9 28 mm; of tegmina, cf 16 mm, 9 20 mm; of hind femora, d 12 mm, 9 IH mm. The numerous specimens examined were collected on the l^ampas in the vicinity of Carcarana, P. C. C. A. F. cdr/entina n. sp. A rather small but comparatively robust species in which the lateral carinae of the pronotum are parallel. The wing covers are but little broadened towards the apex. General color yellowish testaceous; pronotum with the lateral carinae yellow brodered within by rather broad black lines ; the anterior edge of front wings green, the disk smoky brown, more or less transparent in the center, the dorsal portion with a faint tinge of greenish ; hind wings with the basal posterior portion faintly cinnabar red. Length of body 21.5 mm; of tegmina 15 mm; hind femora 14.5 mm. A single male from Carcarana, P.O. C. A. GENUS SINIPTA, STAL. S. B((hti reaching (female) or slightly surpassing the apex of abdo- men (male). Inner lower spur of hind tibiae nearly or quite twice the length of the upper one. The tibiae with ten spines in outer row. Tegmina with a well developed inter- callary vein. Fastigium of the vertex a little narrower than the shortest diameter of the eyes, the foveolae shallow, wdth a median carina running through it and continued ujjon the occiput to the front edge of prnontum ; the edges of foveola blunt and turning inwards and backwards at the upper apex of the eyes where they approach quite closely to the median carina, becoming dimmer upon the occiput, though present in the shape of rows of little tubercels almost to the front edge of the pronotum. Frontal costa prominent, rather broad above between the base of the antennae, becoming broader below, gently sulcate above the ocellus continuing to the clypens ; front rather prominent, somewhat rounded when viewed from the side. Prothorax as in Plectrotetti.v but with the lateral carinae less prominently converging towards the middle and continuous throughout, cut by the middle and last transverse sulci, the last sulcus about the middle. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE SPECIES, A. Snniller species. General color luiiform ferrngiuous or light brown, the markings inconspicuous and irregular, b. Lateral carina- of jjronotum (piite prominent, but gently converg- ing near the mitldle. Mottlings of tegmina confined chietly to flisk. " ferriig'iueus Bruner. bb. Lateral carina' of pronotum feeble on anterior lobe, considerably converging near the middle. Mottlings of tegmina (|uite gener- ally distributed. " cou.sper.sus Bruner. AA. Larger species. General color testaceous or green, the markings quite conspicuous and regular. h. Disk of jn'onotum more or less plainly marked with black along inner edge of the well-developed lateral carin;c. Tegmina with a row of discal spots. General color testaceous, streaked with brown. S<*liulzi Bruner. bb. Disk of pronotum not plainly marked witli black lines along inner edge of lateral carina-. Tegmina with dark markings not con- tined to disk. (Jeneral color green or greenish yellow. prasiuus Bi-imer. Ell j )/<'ctrof('tf i.r fc r I- u (/ i nc 1/ s n. sp. General color ferruginous, mtirked with lines and dots of dark brown and black. Hind tibiae red, tip of spines black. 40 Antennae with the basal joints depressed becoming fih- form apically, about as long as the head and pronotum com- bined. Vertex slightly acute-angled and extending in front of the eyes nearly (male), or quite (female), as far as the distance between them. Head wdien viewed from above about as wide as front edge of prothorax ; the disk of latter somewhat narrower in front than behind: the lateral carinae of male and female nearly as j^rominent as the median. Tegmina of male, with costal edge hyaline and more or less regularly veined with diagonal cross veins, this area slightly expanded; a median row of small subquadrate black spots: in the female the dorsal edge is also more or less mottled with small dark brown flecks, a few of which are also scattered upon the apical third of wing. Sides of pronotum and body, together with the hind thighs along their carinae flecked with black: there are also dim indications along- upper margin on latter of three dusky and three light bands : lower sulcus of femora, and hind tibiae bright coral red, the latter pale towards the base: knee and basal jDortion of tibiae black : venter yellow. Length: of body, rf 12 to 1^ mm, 9 21 mm: of pronotum, c? 3mm, ¥ 3.75 mm: of tegmina, cJ'14 mm, 9 1(5 mm: of hind femora, d 10 mm, 9 12 mm. This insect is fairly common on the sandy knolls about Asuncion, Paraguay, and the more elevated regions of the territory of Formosa across the river to the west. Eaplevti-otetti.r conspersK-'^ n. sp. In structure and size very similar to the preceding, but with the markings more scattered over the whole insect. Ground color dull testaceous. Head slightly broader than front edge of i^rothorax, the latter with the lateral carinae on the front lobe rather dim and considerably convergent toward the middle, cut by the last transverse sulcus about the middle : posterior edge a little more than a right angle : the sides of head provided with several parallel transverse carinae ; entire surface more or less regularly and coarsel}" punctate. Posterior femora with indications of oblique 41 dusky bands on outer face and three on uj^per edge which pass to the inner face : the lower sulcus dull testaceous ; hind tibiae carneous or dull liesh color towards apex, becoming lighter towards the base ; knee and apex of hind femora as in the preceding sj^ecies. Length (female): of body :^1 mm, of pronotnm 4 mm, of tegmina 1H.5 mm, of hind femora 11 mm. Found upon the eastern slopes of the Andes at Mendoza, January L^7th. Fig. 14. — Eaphctrotettix conspersnti — female Eiiph'cfrofeftir Schn/zi n. sp. The body compressed, rather deep at mesothorax : occiput short, sam« width as front edge of prothorax, the latter slightly compressed from the sides; the lateral carinae nearly as prominent as median in the male, parallel to last transverse sulcus, from this point backward slightly diver- gent : in the female converging to a little in front of last transverse sulcus: j)osterior angle very obtuse; the hind portion provided on sides with irregular transverse ridges. Posterior femora extending slightly beyond the tip of abdo- men in both sexes. Tegmina widest a little beyond the mid- dle. Color variable, the general ground color being light testaceous to brownish ferruginous, more or less regularly streaked above and on the sides with black, the posterior femora showing three well-detined dusky oblique bands on outer face and across the upper margin, and internally. Tegmina with a subcostal line of white or green, obliter- ated in some specimens ; the discal field provided with rathm* large regular dusky spots, these markings continuing almost to the apex of the wing ; the upper and lower edges usually more or less free from markings, though in some specimens where the disk of the pronotum is marked along the inner 42 edge of lateral carinae with black this same color extends upon the dorsal angle of tegmina. Face below the eyes usually furnished with a well-defined black streak. Sides of pronotum with the usual tryxaline light and dark streaks. Hind tibiae varying from dull red to bright red, with a pale basal annulus : knees and ajDex of femora as in the preceding forms. Length: of body, d^ 15 mm, ? 23 mm; of pronotum, d^ 3.25 mm, ? 4.5 mm ; of tegmina, d' 14 mm, ? 18 to 20 mm; of hind femora, d 10.5 mm, ? 13 to 14 mm. Very common in the vicinity of Cordoba where it may be found during the winter months among the dead bunch grass growing on the sandy ujjland. Prom the collection of F. Schulz. Euplectrotettix prasinus n. sp. This is a somewhat larger, more robust insect than any of the preceding, in which the head is somewhat broader than the front edge of pronotum. The latter with the middle carina considerably the strongest, the lateral ones gently converging in front of the middle from w^hich point they di- verge both anteriorly and posteriorly ; the hind edge some- what more than a right angle; the sides and head quite smooth, the punctulation being feeble. General color of head and thorax dull apple green ; tegmina, base of abdomen, and legs dull testaceous; the tegmina with indication of discal spots. Hind femora showing traces of dusky and light bands; hind tibiae red; lower sulcus of femora yellow; knees black; venter yellow. Length (female) : of body, 30 mm, of pronotam 5.5 mm. of tegmina 21 mm, of hind femora 15 mm. Cordoba in January, where it is found in rank grass ; not plentiful. SUB-FAMILY OEDIPODINAE. In some parts of the Nortb American continent this sub- family becomes very numerous in genera and species but it seems to be represented in Argentina by less than a dozen species. None of these insects are of any special importance 43 from the economic .standpoint but the various species of Bufonacris become interesting- on account of their peculiar obese structure and wingless bodies. These insects are found in the arid and sub-arid regions southward. The forms of this sub-family may be recognized by the following : TABLE FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE GENERA. A Flxtenial margin of posterior tibia' without the apical spine. b. Posterior tibia' terete, the lateral margins rounded, the apical spurs compressed so that they are narrower than deep at base, c. Body apterous. Pronotum behind straight or gently emarginate. d. Head perpendicular, the frontal costa irregular, dilated at the ocellus, not sulcate. Body tuberculate. e. Antenna' slender, moderatelj^ long, somewhat tlatteued. Head tumid. PAPIPAPPUS Sau.ssure. ee. Antenna' short, moderately heavy and apical ly somewhat clavate. Head not tumitl. PAPPUS Saussure. dd. Head more or less declivant, the vertex angulate: frontal costa straight, sulcate. Protonum costulate. PH K YNOTE TTIX Saussure. cc. Body winged; the hind ]iair with a transverse duskv l)and. Pro- notum angulate behind. TKIM.EROTKOP1S Stal. l)b. Posterior til:)ia' more or less flattened apically, the edges acute, the apical spurs depressed so thai thev arc l^roader than deep at base: Winged. "C. Servillei Blanch. Resistencia, Chaco (Gigiio-Tos) ; Corrientes (Bolivar). This insect occurs in arid localities and according to Blanchard is especially fond of tobacco as a food-plant. 0. macroitteruin JM?i\ich. San Pablo, Tucuman; San Lor- enzo, Jujuy (Giglio-Tos). This insect was redescribed as i). Jiruniieri by Bolivar according to Dr. Karsch. (Ent. Nachricht., XIV, p. 329, 1888); and the (). iii<(vroi>terum Blanch, referred to the new genus Spathaliu)n (Mong. de los Pirgomorfinos, p. 34). 48 GENUS SPATHALIUM, BOLIVAR. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE SPECIES. A Tegmiua longer than the abdomen. b. Wings thisky. as long as the tegmina. Somnieri Bnrm. bb. Wings hyaline, much shorter than tegmina. Audouini Blanch. AA. Tegmina shorter than the abdomen. i). Body of a nearly uniform color, either green or brownish-gray, c. Body comparatively smooth, the tubercles of head, pronotum and hind thighs comparatively small and blunt. General color grass- green, virifli.s Bruner. cc. Body more coarsely tuberculate. General color graj'ish brown. obsciirum Bruner. bb. Body with tegmina and limbs more or less streaked with testace- ous, brown and black, c. Pronotum armed on disk with numerous spine- like tubercles. Grayish-brown, varied with streaks of light testaceous and dull black. liispidiiiu Bruner. cc. Pronotum with the disk armed less decidedly with tubercles. Yellowish-gray, but little varied by streaks of darker hue. testaoeiiiu Bruner- >S'. Soiiiiiieri Burm. Recorded as occurring at Montevideo (Karsch). I do not know this locust. »S'. Audouini Blanch. Salta (Giglio-Tos). Fig. 17. — Spatlialium viridU, .emale. SpafJtdJiiiiii riridis n. sp. Of a uniform grass-green color, more or less varied along the margins of elytra, posterior femora, hind edges of ab- dominal segments, and base of legs with brownish purple. Body comparatively smooth, the surface of pronotum, meso- and metapleurae and femora with the tuberlces small and blunt. The frontal costa continuous with the tubercles small and blunt. The frontal costa continuous with the sulcus of fastigium, very narrow above and widening but little to a point half way between the ocellus and clypeus, where the lateral carinae end abruptly. Prom this 23oint on the face 49 is somewhat raised, indicating- a continuation of the frontal costa but without well-deHned lateral carinae. Tegmina about two-thirds as long as abdomen, pointed at apex and scarcely meeting on back. Length : of body, average, cf 23 mm, ? 34 mm ; of pro- notum, (f 7 mm, ? 10.5 mm; of tegmina, d 15 mm, ? 16 mm: of hind femora, d^ 12 mm, + 16 mm. Found only at Carcarana F. C. C. A. in the province of Santa Fe, where it occurs in moderate numbers upon the ojjen camp. From collections of O. Thomas and A. Kurriger. Spathalixiii obscunnii n. sp. This insect is very similar in general structure and size to the preceding, but differs markedly from that in having the body entirely dark brownish gray, more or less varied with black or deep brown. The thorax, pleurae, and femora are much more heavily armed with tubercles and sjDines than in the jireceding. The frontal costa in some specimens is sulcate above and continuous with sulcation of fastigium ; the lateral carinae converging to a point below the antennae, then broadening again to oceUus and below where they end as in iDreceding species. Posterior femora with indications of two oblique dark colored bands on outer face, in some si^ecimens accompanied by one of much lighter color just beyond the middle. Tegmina with a more or less well de- fined row of black dots along the discal field and upper edge, otherwise of a uniform dull l^rown color. Dimensions slightly less than preceding. This insect has been taken at Cordoba (F. Schulz) and Carcarana (O. Thomas). Less numerous than the proceding. SiKif/Ki/iuji In'sjiiduiii n. sp. In size and general structure similar to the two jjreceding, but differs from both of them in having the body very much variegated with lighter and darker streaks of yellowish gray, brown, and black ; also in having the pronotum armed with very strong tubercles which are spine-like in character, 50 projecting posteriorly on the hind lobe of j^ronotum and on sides of nieso- and metathorax. Posterior femora compara- tively smooth. The face of the frontal costa continuous from the juncture with f astigium of vertex to clypeus ; the lateral Fig. 18. — Spa haluim hispiduDi. female. Fig. 19. — SpallLaliam, male. carinae parallel to a point a little below the ocellus where they diverge strongly to about three times the original width of costa when they proceed nearly parallel to within a very short distance of the clypeus and then again diverge. As indicated above, the general color of this insect is brownish-testaceous, varied with lighter and darker streaks. The lateral carinae of pronotum, a line near the lower margin of the lower edge along with carinae on all the femora, the cheeks, and a transverse line between upper edges of eyes, yellowish clay color ; the intervening spaces brown becoming blackish in some specimens. Tegmina with the discal field provided with a row of blackish sraots, some of the upper veins or interspaces black, other portions varied with streaks of lighter and darker brow^n. Hind femora wdth oblique dusky bands in most specimens, the outer face marked beyond the middle with a light band. Length : of body, cJ* 22-23 mm, 9 37 mm ; of pronotum, d^ 8mm, ? 11.5 mm; of hind femora, d^ 13 mm, ? 17 mm. 51 Specimens of this insect have been seen from Cordoba (F. Schulz) and others collected at Carcarana where it is, per- haps, the most numerous of the three species described above and found at this locality. ,Sp((fh(i/iiiJii festdceioii n. sp. A fourth species of this genus was found at Toaj^, Pampa Central. This insect is very similar in general form to those described above, but differs from them in having the spines or projections on the pronotum much longer and leaf - like than in the preceding forms. It is also considerably larger, and has the body uniformly yellowish brown with comparatively few marks of darker color on sides and disk of jDronotum, and on the middle of outer face of hind femora and the disk of tegmina. Frontal costa gently sulcate, the sides parallel to a point a little below ocellus, then rather broadly but roundly diver- gent, then continuous to clypeus in a somewhat similar form to that of ^ifihuifKiii. The hind femora with a toothed leaf- like exjDansion on lower outer carina about midway between base and apex. The head much broader in proporation to size of insect than in any of the preceding species. Length (female): of body 45 mm, of pronotum 18 mm, of tegmina 20 mm, of hind femora 15 mm. GENUS GRAEA, PHILIPPI. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE SPECIES. A. More graceful, comparatively smooth, varied with light and darker shades of testaceous and brown. horrida Philippi. AA. More robust: much more rugose — unicolorous. luoustrosa Bruuer. G. Jtorrida Philippi. This insect has been recorded from various localities between Bahia Blanca and Catamarca, but some of the records undoubtedly refer to the next species. Specimens of G. horrkki have been examined from Mendoza, San Louis and Cordoba, (P. Schulz, H. Stempelmann). 52 Graea monstrosa n. sj). In structure very similar to Graea horrida of Philippi but somewhat broader and more rugose, unicolorous, varying from a dull testaceous brown to dark wood brown, in some specimens greenish yellow. Some of the males have the posterior portion of the disk of pronotum more or less swollen and of a lighter color, otherwise as indicated above, uniform throughout. The tubercles on outer face of hind femora five in number instead of six as in G. horrida. Length: of body, d^ 28 mm, 9 34-36 mm; of j^ronotum, c? 8 mm, 9 9.5 mm; width of pronotum in widest place, 6' 9 mm, ? 14 mm; of hind femora, d 11.5 mm, ? 13 mm; of antennae, c? 10 mm, 9 12 mm. This insect is found in moderate numbers from Bahia Blanca at the south to Cordoba in the north, being confined chiefiy to uplands where it occurs on sandy soil among the short scattered vegetation. From collections of H. Stempelmann and F . Schulz. Fig. 20. — Gra a monsti'osa, female. SUB-FAMILY ACRIDIINAE. This is by far the most extensive sub-family of locusts represented in the region covered by the j3resent paper, and contains, with but two or three exceptions, all of the de- structive species. The following rather long table for the separation of the genera to which these insects belong will be of some value to the reader in sejDarating the many forms that occur in any particular region. In genera where more than one species occur there will also be found tables for the separation of the different sj^ecies. Those which have 53 been thus far known to do damage to cultivated vegetation or to grasses growing on the pampas will be mentioned in detail under the resjDective species. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE GENERA. A. Posterior Tibirt' provided with an apical spine above iu both margins, b. Fastigium of the vertex horizontally greatly produced. c. Crest of the pronotum serrate throughout. PKIONOLOPHA Stal cc. Crest of the pronotum not serrate or sometimes posteriorih' erenulate, or sometimes cut by the transverse sulci, d. Lateral carina* of the pronotum converging toward the front, e. Carinte of the frontal costa pai'allel or gently diverging above the oee lus. f. Tegmina and wings complete, erpialing or surpassing the abdomen. TKOPlI>()N<)TUS Serv. ff. Tegmina and wings abbreviated. ALCA3IENES Stal. ee. Carina' of the frontal costa diverging aljove tlie ocellus, dd. Lateral carina- of the pronotum parallel or diverging toward the front. EL.-EOCHLOKA Stal. bb. P'astigium of the vertex sloping or depressed. c. Wings with that portion just back of the vein which divides the first and second parts dilated and provided with numerous par- allel transverse veins. d. Fastigium of the vertex subtriangularly acuminate. Frontal costa compressed. Pronotum above rounded: lateral carina obliterated in fi-ont of last transverse sulcus, blunt back of it. KH<)MALE.\ Burmeister. dd. Fastigium of the vertex obtuse. Frontal costa not compressed or sulcate. e. Median carina of the pronotum not cristate. f. Head somewhat smooth. Frontal costa above the antennas obtusely sulcate. ZONIOPODA Stal. ff. Head ru'gulose. Frcmtal costa usually continuous to the clypeus", sulcate. CLAKAZELLA Pict. et Sauss. e. Median carina of the pronotum elevated into a crest which is interrupted by the sulci. TKOPIDACKIS Scudder. cc. Wing with that portion jnstltackof the vein which diviiles the first and second parts not dilated nor provided witli transverse parallel veins. Fastigium of the vertex rounded and fading into the frontal costa. DIPONTIIl'S Stal. AA. Posterior tibi:e with the a])ical spine absent from the uppei- outer margin, b. Posterior tibi:e more or less flattened toward the apex, the margins acute, c. Mesosternal lobes contiguous nearly throughont in a straight line. (Tegmina acuminate.) d. Fastigium of the vertex as long or longer than the eyes. e. Fastigium of the vertex with a single deep groove. Interoc- ular space of the vertex verv narrow. LEI»TVS3I.V Stal ee. Fastigium of the vertex provided wltii four nai-row shallow grooves. The interocnlar space wider. LEPTVS31INA (iiglio-Tos. 54: del. Fastiffium of the vertex shorter than the eves. ARNlLIAStal. ec. Mesosternal lobes more or less distant. Prosterual tubercle coni- cal, somewhat acute, d. Prosternum with the hind margin rounded. Pronotum cjiin- drical. when viewed from the side straight above, the meta- zona not elevated. Frontal costa below the ocellus and late- ral carintv of face subobsolete. Eves verv oblique, less prominent. ^ STENOPOLA Stal. dd. Pronotum with hind margin obtuse-angled. " PAKACOKXOPS Giglio-Tos. bb. Posterior tibia^ terete, not laminate, the margins rounded, c. Posterior tarsi with the first and second joints subequal in length Fastigium of the vertex horizontal or siibhorizontal, somewhat prominent. The front strongly oblique. Tegmina as long or longer than abdomen. Pronotum sub-cvlindrical. BUCEPHALACKIS Giglio-Tos. cc. Posterior tarsi with the second joint distinctlv shorter than the first, d. Fastigium of the vertex triangular or in front truncate, divided fi-om the frontal costa by a transverse carina or distinct angle, e. Upper carina of hind femora smooth, f. Interspace between mesosternal lobes narrower than the lobes themselves, distinctly longer than wide. Proster- nal tubei'cle conical, the apex acute. Mesosternal lobes in female distiuet. Intel-space of vertex Ijetween eyes not narrower than widest part of frontal costa. ALEUAS Stal. ff. Interspace between mososternal lobes of about equal width with the lobes themselves, quadrate. JODACKIS Giglio-Tos. e. Upper carina of hind femora more or less serrate. Fastigium of the vertex horizDUtally projecting, acuminate, f . Pronotum rugose with the hind margin rounded, the median carina visible throughout. Tegmina and wings some- what abbreviated. Vertex between the eves moderately broad. A'iLEKXA Stal. ff. Pronotum at most coarsely punctate on posterior lobe, the hind margin angulate and with the median carina oblit- erated between the transverse sulci. Tegmina and wings greatly surpassing the abdomen. Vertex between the eyes very narrow. 0S3IIL10LA Giglio-Tos. dd. Fastigium of the vertex cletlexed or horizontal, gently fading into the frontal costa. e. Mesosternal lobes longer than wide, their internal margin straight. SCHISTOCEKCA Stal. ee. Mesosternal lobes transverse or of equal width and length, their internal margin rounded, f. Posterior tibia' furnished with eight or sometimes more than eight spines in the outer row. g. Tegmina equaling the abdomen in length or abbreviate, never lobiform or rudimentary, always with the inner margins overlapping, h. Head small, not exserted, the hind part narrower than front edge of pronotum: occiput and vertex on the same plane with the pronotum. ATKACHELACKIS Giglio-Tos. hh. Head larger, distim-tlyexserted, the hiud part as wide or very little narrower than front edge of pronotiiui. i. Pronotuni dilated behind. Cerei of male wiili the apex graceful. DICHHOl'IA'S Stal. ii. Prouiitinn cvliudrical. Cerei of male broadlj' .spat- ulate. " SCOTTUSSA Giglio-Tos. gg. Tegmina lol)iform, lateral, di.stant from one anothei', or meeting above, but never with the edges overlapping. h. Prouotum with the po.sterior edge rounded. Head very large, distinctly wider than the ])Osterior portion of pronotum. Cerei of male, excej)! of base. stvlifoi-m. SCOPAS (iiglio-To.s. hh. Pronotum with the posterior edge truncate or emar- giuate. Head much smaller, not as wide as hind border of pro otum. Cerei of male more or less flattened and curved. PAKADICHHOPLIS Brunner. ff. Posterior tibiie generally with less than eight spines, usti- sually with six to seven, in outer row. Frontal eosla percurrent. straight, not at all or but little produced be- tween the antenna'. Tegmina and winsjs fullv devel- oped. O'SMlLIAStal. GENUS PRIONOLOPHA, STAL. P. serrntd (Linii.) This large locust has been taken in the i^rovinces of Tncuman, Salta, Jujuy and the territory of the Chaco (Gigiio-Tos). GENUS TROPIDONOTUS, SERV. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE SPECIES. A. Crest of the pronotum more or less erenulate or even serrulate i)os- teriorly. Genicular angles of hind femora acixte. a little lengthened, b. Tegmina testaceotis. more or less mottled with brown, e. The markings of tegmina large, forming more or less well-delined l)ands. d. Hind femora very long, reaching considerably beyond the tip of abdomen in" botli sexes. Crest of pronotum deeply cleft bv all three sulci, the lobes distinctly separated. diiscoideiis Serv. dd. Hind femora shorter, only reaching the tip of abdomen (fe- male) or but little surpassing it (male). Crest of pronotum less deeply cleft, the lobes closely approximate, e. General color grayish-brown. Tegmina with the markings distinct or apical as well as on basal half. Aiit onniicn/or Blanch. Found moderately abundant at Cordoba. This insect was described and figured by Blancluird in Voyage dans I'Amer. merid., Vol. VI, pt. 2, Ins. j). (l'K)) PI. XXVII, tig. 8, and aj^pears to be the same one described by Stal (Recens. Orth., I, l^s?;], p. ~)'2) as Z. eiii(irij)(»ifhi(s ScJtnlzl n. sj). A very beautiful insect belonging to the same grouj) with the i^receding but considerably smaller and more varied with light and dark markings. The frontal costa, median line on fastigium and occiput continuous with the line on jjronotum. The cheeks, back and below the eyes, an oblique line on the sides of pronotum commencing at about the middle and directed upwards and backwards, also lower edge of each side brig?it greenish yellow. There is also a similarly colored line on both the meso- and metapleurae, other por- tions of the head, pronotum, and meso- and metathorax black. Tibiae black in some specimens ; the lower part of face, edges of occiput and ends of hind femora, with back edge of pro- notum bright red. Antennae black, basally the joints annulated with light yellowish. Hind femora with a basal spot outside and inside, and two very heavy black bands on outer, upper, and inner faces ; sometimes continued more or less strongly on the lower edge also ; knees also black both internally and externally ; posterior tibiae w^ith the tips and under side of base black ; anterior and middle femora, along with tibiae, more or less black. Abdomen yellow with rather heavily marked basal bands of black; above varied with black and yellow streaks. Length: of body, c? 25-26 mm. V 30 mm: of lu'onotum, -f' 4.25 mm, 9 6 mm; of tegmina, cf' 20 mm, '? 2!^ www. hind femora, (^"12 mm, ? 16 mm. This beautiful species was contained in the collections of F. Schulz and H. Stempelmann. 64 It occurs, so far as I am at j^resent aware, only in the vicinity of Cordoba, where it is fairly abundant. D. peruiistuii Serv. Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires (Pict. et Sauss, ); Carcarana (Bruner, O. Thomas). DipontJiJis coiiniiKn/s n. sp. Very similar in size and form to D. pijcnoKtictus and D. arf/entiiius, but differing from those two insects in being of a bright olive green color instead of testaceous or red ; and with the prothorax, sides of body, and hind tibiae together with femora, less mottled with black than in those sj^ecies. Tegmina with the general color varying from dark olive green to black, mottled by lighter markings. Antennae either unicolorous or light with the apex of joints dark, giving these appendages an annulated appearance. Wings with the base and disk red, the apex greenish, in some specimens infuscated, the veins darker. Anterior and middle femora more or less speckled with black; the tibiae in some speci- mens black, in others greenish ; posterior femora with two more or less complete dusky bands on outer, upper, and inner faces ; the knees both inside and out black ; extremity of posterior tibiae black : spines black tijjped. Abdominal segments with indications on venter of transverse black bands on basal portion, other parts of venter more or less closely si^eckled with black. Fig. 28. — Dijiontlnis comvmnis Bruner. Length: of body, c? 18 mm, ? 36 mm; of pronotum, d^ 5 mm, 9 7.5 mm; of tegmina, d 22 mm, ? 30 mm; of hind femora, cJ 12 mm, + 17 mm. On camp in provinces of Cardoba, Santa Fe, and Buenos Ayres. (Collection of O. Thomas). 65 This, next to the i^receding, appears to be the eoiiiinonest species of I)ii)(»it/n(M upon the pami^as. It seems to be partial to a small, thorny Solanum as a food-plant. B. /){/cnosf ictus Pict. et Saiiss. Entre Rios {Pict. et Saiiss.); Province of Sanat Fe (Bruner). I). }ihji-o-co)is[)ersas Stal. La Republique Argentine (Pict. et Sauss.) D. puelclins Pict. et Sauss. Cordoba (P. Schulz, H. Stempelmann. ) This insect seems to be the same as that decribed by Ignacio Bolivar as Zoniopoda pict a (Artrop. del Viaje al Pacitico, p. 37, 1SS4). Should this prove true Bolivar's name would have priority. GENUS LEPTYSMA, STAL. L. Jiiiforiiils {Sew.) This insect occurs at San Lorenzo, Jujuy, and Resistencia, Chaco (Giglio-Tos). GENUS LEPTYSMINA, GIGLIO-TOS. TABLE FOR SEPAKATlNc; THE SPECTES. A. Tnbei'cle of the prosteniuin eoiiipressecl from tlic sides, the apex dilated and rounded. I>alliliquely transverse series. cancellata Serv. Fig. 31. — ScJiistocerca paranensis — a dwarfed female specimen. S. florofitschifd DeGeer. Throughout the valley of the Rio Parana, but nowhere numerous. *S'. jjaroiiensis Burm. The destructive locust of the countr\^ and represented in all the collections. S. pdlleus Thunb. Several specimens of this more northern locust were observed along- the upper Parana between Cor- rientes and Formosa. S. vam-ellafa Serv. Buenos Air(>s, Rosario, Santa Fe, Carcarana, etc. Quite a number of sp(>cimens of this species were examined during the writer's sojourn in the country. As will be seen by an examination of the accompanying illustra- tions, there is quite a resemblance in the general a])pearance of this and the p(ir(nie)isis imagos; but the saltonas are C[uite different. The viotcelldid som'^tiuies accompanies the 70 parajiensis in its flights. It is more at home on the west coast than east of the Andes. Hg. SI. — Sehif>t'>cei ca paranensis Bunii. Fig. 33. — Schistocerca cancellata Serv. GENUS ATRACHELACRTS, GIGLIO-TOS. A. unlcolor Gigho-Tos. A very common insect on the open camp from Buenos Aires northward to Paraguay where it has been known to increase to such an extent as to become a pest. Specimens were contained in all the collections examined. Cordoba (P. Schulz, H. Stempelmann ) ; Carcarana, (O. Thomas). 71 The accompanying- illustration will give the reader an idea of its general appearance. As its name implies it is of a uniform grass-green color. Fig. 34. — Atrachelacriii unicolor (iiylio-Tos. — female. Fig. 3"i. — A. tniicolor. lualc, and ti]) of ahdomeii. GENUS DICHROPLUS, STAL. The insects which comprise this extensive genus are very closely related to one another in their general appearance, and the few forms that have thus far been noted by entomologists have been so briefly described that it is a little doubtful as to their identity. This is especially true when the student is limited in the material that is accessible for study. However this may be, the writer, after considerable study, has separated them into IB species for Aregntina. Several of these occur in large numbers upon portions of the pampa region, and sometimes cause much injury to the grasses. They go by the general name of "tucuras, " which w^ord I jDresume simply means "grasshoppers." TABLE FOR SEPAKATIN'i THE SPECIES. A. Female with the valves of the ovipositor emargiintely truiicato. In- terval between the mesosternal lobes considerably longer tlian witle. Male eerci moderately long, compressed back of middle, beyond gently bowed, b Prosternal tubercle large, transverse. Lower edge and inner face of hind femora blood-red. General color dull brown. ob.sfuru Hrnncr. bl). Prosternal tubercle not large, conical. Lower t-dge and inner face of hind femora yellowish, c. Smaller. General color olivaceous-yellow. Upper valves of ovipositor much longer than the lower ones. clieiis Stal. cc. Larger. General color brownish-yellow. Upper valves of ovi 1 ( ; or but little longer than lower ones. leiuniscatus Slab 72 AA Female with the valves of the ovipositor entire at apex, acuminate or snbaenminate. Interval between the mesosternal lobes usu- ally. Imt not always, as broad or a little broader than long. b. Hind tibia' with nine spines in outer row. Tegmina and wings usually reaching or surpassing the tip of abdomen, c. Interval between the mesosternal lobes a little longer than wide. Upper edge of sides of pronotum generally dusky throughout, but sometimes only to the posterior sulcus, d. Tegmina not surpassing the tip of hind femora, e. Frontal costa suleate. f. Posterior coxa^ marked externally with a dark line. g. Disk of tegmina dark veined. fuscil.s Thunb. gg. Disk of tegmina not dark veined. Lower sulcus and inner face of hind femora red. cinereii.s Bruner. ff. Posterior coxa^ not marked e.Kternally with a dark line. Tegmina sordid yellow, unieolorous. bicoloi' Giglio-Tos. ee. Frontal costa not suleate. Dorsal edge of tegmina ])ale- veined. patruelis Stal. d'l. Tegmina surpassing the tip of hind femora. e. Male cerci rather heavj' and straight. Lower sulcus of hind femora yellowish. " praten.si.s Bruner. ee. Male cerci slender, incurved laeyond the middle. Lower sulcus of hind femora orange-red. f. Smaller, very slender; the sides of pronotum jDarallel. Dusky band on side of pronotum extending to meta- pleur'a. exilis Giglio-Tos. ff. Larger, less graceful: the sides of pronotum diverging pos- teriorly. Dusky band on side of pronotum continued upon tegmina to the apex. eloiig-a lis Giglio-Tos. cc. Interval between mesosternal lobes ful,ly as wide or wider than long. The dusky band on sides of pronotum more or less in- terrupted. d. Posterior lobe of pronotum somewhat ascending posteriori}', a little longer than the anterior lol:)e. arrog-ans Stal. (h\. Posterior lobe of pronotum not ascending posteriorly, about equaling or a tritie shorter than the anterior lobe. e. Posterior coxa' fuscous or black spotted. Last ventral seg- ment of male abdomen with the lateral margins black, f. Smaller. Himl tibia- red. punctulatus Thunb. ff. Larger. Hind tibia' greenish-testaceous. coii.spersii.s Bruner. ee. Posterior coxa unspotted. Last ventral segment of male ab- domen with the margins never black, f. Dull olivaceous-yellow. Tegmina about reaching tip of hind femora, unieolorous: the latter with inner face and lower sulcus bright carmine, hind tibia olivaceous. Bergii Stal. ff. Yellowish varied above with brown. Tegmina about one- half as long as abdomen, brown, with a discal row of black dots and latero dorsal yellow lines continous with those on margins of disk of pronotum. Posterior femora internally on basal half carmine, lower sulcus yellow; hind tibia glaucous-green. vittatii.s Bruner. bb. Hind tibia' with eight spines in outer I'ow. Tegmina and wings abbreviated, about as long as ihe head and pronotum combined. Olivaceous-green. Postei'ior tibia> glaucous. aiiioenus Stal. 73 Dicliropli!^ ohsci/riis n. sp. A moderately large and robust species, with the valves of the ovipositor of female emarginately truncate at apex and the interspace between the mesosternal lobes longer than wide. Lower sulcus of hind femora bright blood-red; hind tibiae purplish, somewhat infu seated near the base. General color dull brown ; tegmina mottled with rather large black dots throughout discal field ; venter yellow. Frontal costa wide with the margins blunt, sulcate in vicinity of ocellus : pronotum with the median carina heavy, conspicuous throughout; sides but gently divergent posteriorly, the last transverse sulcus about the middle. Tegmina rather narrow, reaching a trifle beyond the tip of hind femora but not quite to tip of abdomen. Posterior femora heavy at base, not reaching apex of abdomen. Prosternal sj^ine robust, long, and directed posteriorly so as to touch the front edge of mesosternum beyond the point of which it extends a trifle. Length f of body, female, 33 mm, of pronotum 7 mm, of tegmina '2'2 mm, of hind femora IH mm. A single specimen collected during the month of January on the open camp near Carcarana (A. Kurriger). v. c/ieiis Stal. This insect has not been recognized among the various formes studied, but is included here because of its recorded Uruguayan habitat. Monte Video, Uruguay (Stal). I). lenniixcdfiis Stal. Not recognized by the writer, but reported as coming from Buenos Aires (Stal). />. jHiffiK'/is Stal. Buenos Aires (Stal): Resistencia, Cliaco (Giglio-Tos). 1'. bico/or Giglio-Tos. San Lorenza, Juju.y (Giglio-Tos). /.'. fu-scKs Thunb. Specimens from the Province of Santa Fe are referred to this species (O. Thomas). I>icli i'(>iihis cine reus n. sp. General color dull cinereous vai'ied with brown and testaceous. Head in femah^ rather large, in male small: eyes quite large and protruding; fastigium of the vertex of male narrower than the diameter of second joint of antenna, in 74 the female about half again as broad; frontal costa of equal width throughout, sulcate in male from fastigium to clypeus, in female from ocellus downward. Pronotum, (male) with the sides nearly parallel, (female) somewhat expanding posteriorly, with a rather well defined broad brown band running from back edge of eyes along upper lateral edges of pronotum to base of tegmina, below this the sides are yellowish white. The transv^erse sulci quite plain, the pos- terior one a little back of middle; hind edge angulate. Tegmina and wings not quite reaching tip of abdomen in both sexes. General color of former light gray with inf uscation at base. Tegmina rather narrow toward the apex. Poterior femora with indication of two oblique dusky bands on outer face and upper edge, inner side, and also lower sulcus more or less tinged with bright orange red ; knees inside and out dusky, with the lower edges blue ; posterior tibiae with ex- ception of a rather broad pale annulus near base blue ; base of wings yellowish, the apex dusky, the upper face black or dark brown. Length : of body, d 17 mm, ? 26 mm ; of pronotum, d^ 3.5 mm, 9 5.75 mm; of tegmina, cf 10.5 mm, ? 16 mm; of hind femora, (^ 10 mm, 9 14 mm. This insect occurs on the slopes west of the city of Mendoza, where it was found in small numbers upon a leafless, rather tall composite growing in the dry sandy bed of a creek. DichropluH pratejisis n. si3. General color flavo-tetaceous varied with brown and black ; pronotum with light bands at edges of disk ; hind tibiae bluish-gray ; lower sulcus and inner face of posterior femora varying from yellow to dull orange. Interval between mesosternal lobes a little longer than wide. Tegmina a trifle surpassing tip of hind femora. Pronotum with sides gently diverging posteriorly ; the median carina of equal prominence throughout, cut near the middle by last transverse sulcus. The sides of head, back of eyes and pronotum to the last transverse incision dusky, in some specimens back of this con- 75 tinued as a ferruginous patch to hind edge of pronotum. Tegmina with the dorsal edges light veined, a few dusky spots above ; the disk more or less mottled with black, as is also the costal field, though to a much less degree. Pos- terior femora very heavy, with a basal, middle, and preapical dusky i^atch above; knees black both inside and outside. Cerci of male rather heavy, straight, and somew^hat spatulate apically. Last ventral segment of male abdomen obtusely conical. Prosternal spine hort, conical, obtuse. Length : of body, d^ 23-26 mm, ? 28 mm ; of pronotum, c? 5 mm, 9 6 mm; of tegmina, c? 1^^ mm, 9 18-22 mm; of hind femora, 13 S" mm, 9 14-16 mm. This insect is quite robust and reminds one not a little of the common North American Jle/otoiihis hirittofKs in its gen- eral ajDjDearance. It occurs quite abundantly on the open camp in the provinces of Santa Pe and Buenos Aires where vegetation is rank. It has been reported as sometimes doing- considerable damage to the grasses. (Collections of O. Thomas and A. Kurriger). Fig. 8(5. — Diclbioijiaaarrogans, male, aud tip of abdomen. Fig. 37. — Dichroplus pratensis^ male, and tip of abdomen. D. exi/is Giglio-Tos. San Lorenzo, Jujuy, Resistencia, Chaco (Giglio-Tos). D. elonr/atiffi Giglio-Tos. Province of Tucuman (Giglio- Tos) ; Cordoba (P. Schulz, H. Stempelmann) ; Carcarana, Santa Fe (O. Thomas) ; Rosario (A. Kurriger). This insect is one of the most abundant and widely dispersed species of the genus in middle Argentina. 70 D. arrogant St&l. Buenos Aires, Monte Video (C. Stal); LaColina, Buenos Aires and Bahia Blanca (Bruner). This insect was reported as a common destructive species in portions of the provinces of Buenos Aires and Bahia Blanca; and possibly also from Rio Negro and Pampa Central where rather small "tucuras" frequently destroy the "camp." I). puHctulatui^ Thunb. This seems to be the smallest, most variable and at the same time most widely distributed species of the genus. Specimens were examined from all parts of the Republic north of the Rio Negro of Patagonia. Fig m. — Dichropln^ I Fig. AO.—Dichrop In s honqatus. male, and tip Fig. 3!).-Z>. j^i^^'C- p >' nctulatus, mala, of abdomen. tulatns. tVmale. and tip of abdomen. Fig. il.—Dichroplus coaspersus, female. Fig. 42.— D. arroga7is, female Dichroplus conspersus n. sp. A moderately small but very robust species, of a duskv color, in which the hind tibiae are greenish yellow, the lower sulci and inner basal half of posterior femora bright red, and the interspace between the mesoternal lobes a little wider than long. Head small ; pronotum greatly expanding posteriorly, the median carina obliterated on middle lobes, moderately plain on anterior and posterior lobes, severed by all three trans- verse sulci, the last a little in advance of the middle ; the posterior lobe a little the longest, right-angled in male, a 77 little obtuse in female. Tegmina extending a triHe beyond the ti]) of hind femora in both sexes ; the latter very heavy at base. Prosternal spine short, a little transverse, the apex blinit. Pronotam above with a large triangular black spot immediately back of last transverse sulcus. In soma specimens the portion back of this light brown or ferrugin- ous, and in still others dirty white. Occasionally this white band etxends also upon the back edge of the lateral sides of 7Dronotum so as to give the insect the appearance of having a light collar or light colored band immediately in front of base of wings. Tegmina irregularly mottled throughout with dusky dots. Hind femora marked above with three dusky bands: the knees also somewhat dusky: several of the abdomional segments with their sides more or less black : last ventral segment of ' the male with the edges dusky. Cerci moderately slender, elongate, and bowed inward on aT^ical half. Length: of body, d' K) mm, ? 20-23 mm: of pronotum, cJ' 8.75 mm, ? 5-5.5 mm; of tegmina, d 18 mm, ? 15-17 mm : of hind femora, c? 10 mm, ? 12 mm. A common insect on the dryer portions of the camp in southern Santa Fe and eastern Cordoba, where it occurs during the latter part of winter and earlv spring. (O. Thomas, A. Kurriger). I). Beir/ii Stal. Resistencia, Chaco (Giglio-Tos) : Corrientes, Buenos "Aires and Parana (C. Stal); Cordoba (F. Schulz, H, Stempelmann) ; Carcarana and Rosario de Santa Fe (O. Thomas, A. Kurriger). Bichrop/Ks rlftctus n. sp. ! General color bright greenish yellow : the occiput, lateral edges of i^ronotum in advance of postreior transverse sulcus, along with dorsal edges and discal field of tegmina brown : the three basal segments of abdomen at sides, and knees of hind femora both internally and etxernally, black: pos- terior tibiae deep greenish blue; hind femora with the lower sulcus yellow, the inner face near basal half l)right 78 red, this latter color shining through to the outside, beyond which the femora are more or less olivaceous, their upper edges marked with two dusky patches towards the apex. Head moderately prominent, especially in the male; eyes bulging; pronotum but little (male) or considerably (female) expanding posteriorly. Tegmina of male about one-half as long as abdomen, of female a little longer, acuminate ; the dorsal angles, toge.ther with the dorsal edges of pronotum and a light streak running backward from uj^per posterior edge of eyes forms a continuous line of light color to tip of tegmina on each side. The metapleurae are furnished with oblique yellow lines extending from back edge of pronotum to base of hind femora. Cerci of male on basal half rather heavy, apical half slender, bowed inward. Space between metasternal lobes as broad as long. Length: of body, c? 15-18 mm, ? 25 mm; of pronotum, d^ 4-4,5 mm, ? 6 'mm; of tegmina, cf 6.5-7 mm, 9 11 mm, (sometimes complete, when they are 20 mm); of hind femora, d" 8.5-11 mm, ? 18-14 mm. Fig. 43. — DichropJus vittatus. female. Fig. 44. — Dichroplus vittatus, male aud tip of abdomen. This insect occurs in moderate numbers in the provinces of Santa Fe, Cordoba, San Louis, and Mendosa, usually frequenting the edges of groves where it feeds upon the more succulent vegetation. An occasional female specimen is to be found in which the wings are fully developed. (Collect- ions of F. Schulz, H. Stempelmann, and O. Thomas). D. aiiioenas Stal. Cordoba (F. Schulz). 79 GENUS SCOTUSSA, GIGLIO-TOS. S. iiniiKdica Giglio-Tos. Resistencia, Cliaco (Giglio-Tos) ; Rosario, Santa Fe (H. Stempelmann) ; Carcarana, Santa Fe (O. Thomas). GENUS SCOPAS, GIGLIO-TOS. S. obesus Giglio-Tos. Although no definite record exists, so far as the writer knows, of this insect having been collected in Argentina, there is but little doubt that it occurs in the territories of Formosa and Chaco. Fig. 45. — Pdradieliroplus Brunneri, Fig. 4(5. — P. Brunneri, male, aud female. tip of abdomen. GENUS PAKADIOHROPLUS, BRUNNER. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE SPP:CrES. A. Hind tibiae provided wlth^nine spines in outer row. b. General color yellowish, the dorsum of pronotuni and al)domen dusky. Head black. bilobiis Giglio-Tos. bb. General color greenish-olivaceous, the dorsum of ])ronotum and abdomen lights Head concolorous. 15ruuiiori Giglio-Tos. AA. Hind tibiti? pi'ovided with eight spines in outer row. b. Moderately robust, the head large. General coloi- ferruginous, ir- regularly and obsoleteljf variegated with greenish-fuscous. l>il)Uiu*tatus (iiglio-Tos. 1)1). More slender, fusiform, the head not large. ( icucral color Itrown- ish-olivaceous. I'li.silbrmis Giglio-Tos. P. bi/<>l)i(s Giglio-Tos. San Lorenzo, Jujuy (Giglio-Tos). P. Briomeri G\9:Uo-Tos. Cordoba (F. Scliulz) ; Carcarana (O. Thomas) ; Resistencia, Chaco (Giglio-Tos). P. bi[>t(iict((tns Giglio-Tos. San Lorenzo, Jujuy (Giglio- Tos). P.I fiisifonn/s Giglio-Tos. San Lorenzo, Jujuy (Giglio- Tos.)'. 80 GENUS OSMILIA, STAL. TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE SPECIES. A. Largei". Base of wings light-blnish. violacea Tbimb. AA. Smaller. Base of wings sordid yellowish-hyaline. obliqua Thunb. 0. violacea (Thunb.) San Lorenzo, Jujuy (Giglio-To.s) ; Chaco, Tucuman (Bruner). 0. obliqua Thunb.) San Lorenzo, Jujuy (Gigiio-Tos). SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION UBRABIES 3 9088 00074 7337