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Supplementary information for


Caudell 1918 (Leurophyllum unicolor)

Content:  Leurophyllum unicolor Brunner.

Platyphyllum unicolor Brunner, Monogr. Pseudoph., p. 139 (1895).
Leurophyllum unicolor Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth., vol. ii, p. 320 (1906).

One male , December 15, 1906. Iconnicoff. Three females, January, 1906, April and September, 1908. Schunke.

These specimens fit Brunner's description very well. The ventral spines of the anterior femora vary in number from one to three.

The male, hitherto undescribed, runs out in Brunner's key to granulosum but is too small for that species, being more as in guttatum in this respect but differing from this species in others. The elytra are broader basally than in the female and more acutely pointed apically. The cerci are bifid apically, the upper branch much shorter than the lower one; subgenital plate narrowed apically and with a U-shaped apical notch and a pair of cylindrical slender styles about ten times as long as broad. The breast is piceous, as is also the face. The measurements of the single male represented in this collection are as follows: Length: pronotum, 7.25 mm.; anterior femora, 7 mm.; posterior femora, 16 mm.; tegmina, 25 mm.; anal styles, 2 mm. Width: pronotum, posteriorly, 4.5 mm.; tegmina, at base, across speculum, 6.5 mm., at middle, 5 mm.; posterior femora, 3.1 mm.

The tegmina of the female are noticeably marked with darker zigzag markings of variable distinctness, a character scarcely indicated in the male discussed above and at variance with the original diagnosis. It is possible that the above male is wrongly associated with the females but without additional material it is thought best not to characterize it as distinct at this time.

The wings of this species are very lightly fuliginous in both sexes and in this character stands intermediate between the clear-winged genus Platyphyllum of Serville and the fuliginous-winged Leurophyllum of Kirby. This character seems to be about the only one so far given for the separation of these two genera and it appears of little value for the purpose. But a structural character may exist to serve for their separation, though I have insufficient knowledge of the forms to point such out at this time.

Source of information:  Caudell. 1918. On a collection of Orthoptera (exclusive of the Locustidae) made in Central Peru by N. Iconnicoff & C. Schunke. Insecutor Inscitiae Menstruus. 6(1-3):1-70

Date last modified:  Thursday, June 05, 2008


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