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Psyche 7:287-298, 1894.

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PSYCHE.
REVISION OF THE SPECIES OF SPHARAGEMON,
BY ALBERT P. MORSE, WELLESI-EY, MASS.
Since the publication of my paper on
the New England species of this genus
(Proc. Boston soc. nat. hisl., xxvi,
220-240) I have had an opportunity to
study all the material in this genus in
the collections of Mr. Scudder and the
National Museum. In addition, I have
received several forms which would
otherwise not have been seen, together
with numerous notes on the distribution
of the species, from Prof. Lawrence
Brunei". I desire to express here my
thanks to Mr. Scudder, Piof. Brunei.,
and Dr. Riley for die obligations under
which they have thus placed me.
While I have been unable, owing to
lack of sufficient material, to reach as definite conclusions as I had in some
cases hoped, it seems best to publish
the results of this inspection of a con- siderable number of specimens from all
parts of the country.
All of the material examined is from
localities east of the Sierra Nevada
Mts., yet it is not unlikely that the
genus nay occur on the Pacific coast.
A single specimen of one specics from
Mexico, and several of another from
Aspinwall (if the labeling is correct,
which is open to some doubt in the
latter case), indicate a considerable
southward extension of the genus.
While some species are restricted to a
limited portion of the territory men-
tioned, as nearly as may be judged,
others occur over its entire area.
The more important papers treating
of the members of this genus are those
of Scudder (Proc. Boston soc. nal. hist., xvii, 467-471) ; Morse (Gid., xxvi,
220-240) ; Saussure (Prodromus Oedi-
podiorum, 134-140) ; and (.he original
descriptions of Say, Thomas, and
Scudder, references to which will be
found in the proper places elsewhere in
this paper. In the bibliography and
synonymy references are given only to
the more important items.
I regret to say that several changes
have been found necessary in the
nomenclature of the species. At the
time of preparing nay previous piper
it seemed best to accept the determi-
nations of Scudder, at least until
the western forms could be more
thoroughly examined. This I have
now done, as far as material permitted,
and while some points remain unsettled
a considerable advance has been made
-there is strong reason for believing
that the names as used here have been
accurtttely applied and now rest upon
a permanent basis. Discrimination of
the species has proved a stunibljng-




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288 ps ?THE. [October 1805.
block to many; why this is so is not
to be wondered at in some cases,
though in others it is difficult to
understand. Species belonging to
different sections of the genus and
even to other genera, have been con-
fused by the ablest authorities.
Examples will be readily found in
the synonymy given under the diller-
ent species, statements there made
referring only to specimens bearing
labels on the pins, not to those
arranged with them, since mistakes
are liable to occur during re-arrange-
mcnt.
Variation in color in this genus, in
common with other Oedipodinae,
counts for very little ; the same species or race may be of all shades from a
general dark fuscous to a pale buff or
even a bright reddish brown, even in
specimens from the same spot, yet it
is probable that the general tint of a
large series will be found to agree
with the color of the soil of the
locality, or other peculiarity of enviion- merit. Specimens of several different
species from certain localities in
Colorado show a striking reddish,
nlmost rosaceous, coloration, due to
some such cause. The coloration so
frequently found in callare, viz., the
ventral half of head, sidcs and metazona of pronotnm white or pale clay color, is not characteristic of that species nor
confined to it, specimens lacking that
coloration being about equally common,
and other species showing it. It is
found in several species but most com-
monly in those of the collate series,
especially from the western States.
It
is doubtful if it occurs in the bolZiseries, whose coloration is different in charac- ter from that of the others.
Variation in size of individuals of the
same species is quite noteworthy, the
average size of species increasing to the southward. In general, it may be
stated that Texan specimens are
twenty-five to forty per cent. larger
than those from the northein borders of
the country. This is well shown in
holli, by comparing Xew England and
Texas specimens, linear measurements
of the latter showing about forty per
cent. increase. The sexes also differ
markedly in this respect; an extreme
ease of which is shown in two speci-
mens of collars from northern Indiana
in Mr. Scudder's collection ; in lhese
the Female is fifty per cent. larger in
linear measurements than the male,
the two forming the extremes in the
table of measurements given under
that species.
The diagnostic characters of most im-
portance are the structure and elevation of the pronotal carina; of less value are the size and prominence of the eyes,
color and marking of hind legs, form of
hind margin of pron.otuin, and extent of fuscous wing-band.
The species may be arranscdn three
series according to the structure of the pronotum. In the first of these, which
is readily distinguished from the other
two, and of which bolZi may be taken
as a type, the disk of the pronotum is
flat in longitudiniil section and the car- ina is equally compressed throughout ;




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October 18qs.l PSYCHE. 289
the body is also more compressed and
the hind tibiae are usually heavily infus- cated. This section is worthy of sub-
generic distinction. In the others the
disk of tlie prozona is more or less
elevated on its posterior portion, rising broadly upon the carina, rendering it
less compressed in that part ; the lat-
eral carinae are usually more distinct;
the body is less compressed, and the
hinij tibiae red, sometimes annulate
with pale next base. The species
showing this structure are referable to
a " high " and 21 " low" series, though
they are closely related and it is proba- ble that connecting forms will be found. 111 the " high " forms {collars series)
tlie carina is well or highly developed, much compressed, and the hind margin
of the pronotum shows a tendency to
be strongly acute-angled with excavated
sides. In the ^ low " forms (aepale
series) the carina is low or carinate and the hind margin is more nearly or quite
rectangular with straight sides. This
series is represented in New England
by saxatile. The form described here
as k i l e has the carina so little devel- oped as to leave some doubt regarding
its proper position in the bolli or the
aepale series.
Whether the genus should be ex-
tended to include additional species re- mains to be learned by study of the
forms most closely allied; whether it
is an entirely natural group as it stands is perhaps a little questionable. As
here treated it follows closely the char- acterization given by Scudder when
established ; and by Saussure, who
places it as a subgenus under Dissos-
teira (Prod. Oed., 134-135).
Fig. I, la, ib, S. wepitans, 9.
Fir. 2, aa, ab, S. &Ui, 9.
Fig-. 3, .S. fiewalo, 9'; 33, rf. Fig. 4, S. s~zefile, 9 ; 4a, J.
Fir. 5. sa, S. crhtalzo,!, 9. Fit, 6, 67, S. c,il!we, 9. .




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290 PSYCHE. [October 1895
GROUP I. BOLLI SEKIKS.
Carina of pronoturn equally com-
pressed tl~ouglio~~t ;
disc flat in longi-
tudinal section. Hind tibiae usually
annulate with fuscous.
Synopsis of Species.
A. Hind tibiae annulate with fuscous.
B. Head and body strongly com-
pressed ; apex of wings sub-para-
bolic. (Fla. and Ga.) crepitans.
BB. Head and body less compiessed ;
apex of wings i ouncled. bolli.
BBB. Head and body robust; meta-
zona longer proportionally than
in above species. (Mex.)
~ohustz/m.
AA. Hind tibiae not annulate with
fuscous. (New Mexico.)
inornatum.
(See also the description of hti.mHe.)
Spharagemon crepitans Sauss.
Dissosteira buliti var. crepitans.
Saussure, Prod. Oed., p. 140.
I 9, Jacksonville, Fla.,- P~iddey ;
I 9, Fla.,-Morrison ; 8 unknown.
Antenna. Hind fern. Teg. Body. Total."
6 18-18.2 32-33 33-38 41-4r.s mm.
These two specimens, sent by Prof.
Brunei', were referred doubtfully by
1 to 7'bnzonotus simmernzanni
Sauss. which is given as a synonym of
Chorto'pha@ 'uiridzyasciata, by Saus-
sure himself (Prod. Oed., p. 73).
B y "toel " is meant the length of the insect at rest including the tcgrnina.
They agree with the description of
crepltans (1. c.) from Georgia in the
greatly cornpresscd form of the body
and especially of the head, and the
sub-parabolic apex of wings. It seems,
however, sufficiently distinct from hlli Lo be rcgardecl as a different species.
The hind tibiae lack the bright red
coloration of hlli but the specimens
may have been in alcohol and had the
color largely destroyed.
Spharagemon bolli Scudder.
Sph. bolli. Scudder, Proc. Boston
soc. nat. hist.. v. 17, 469.
Sph. balteatztm. Scuckler, Proc.
Boston soc. nat. hist., v. 17, 469.
S-ph. Mi Scudd. Morse, Proc.
Boston soc. nat. hist., v. 26, 227.
I have nothing further to add to the
syiwnomy as cited and stated in my
previous paper (1. c.)
The great difference in size between
New England and Texas specimens
has already been incntionei.1, linear
measurements of the latter being nearly
forty per cent. larger. New England
specimens are smaller than those of
Indiana, Indiana than tliose of North
Carolina, N. Carolina than those of
Texas, and, should the specimen cle-
scribed here as robustum prove to
belong- to this species, we have reason
to think that Mexican specimens are
even larger than those of Texas. This
is not improbable, specimens of cris-
tatzim from the Gulf coast of Texas
being" decidedly larger than those from
Dallas in that State. Inclivicl~~ds also



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October 1895.1 PSYCHE. 291
vary considerably in the proportions
of the eyes and head.
Thc species is very variable in color,
partly, no doubt, in accordance with
its environment, showing well the
three extremes of fuscous, fulvous, and
pale buff coloration ; and in markings,
those of the tegmina being sometimes
almost entirely obsolete. The wing-
band varies greatly in width; in a 8
from Iowa in Scudder's collection it is
nearly one-third the breadth of the
wing, being double the width as found
in many specimens.
Since my previous paper I have
obtained it from the following addi-
tional New England localities : Brattle- boro, Vt. (Mrs. J. B. Powers) ; Ded-
hain and Belmont, Mass. (C. J. May-
nard) ; Adams, Dover, and Martha's
Vineyard Id., Mass. ; Canaan, Deep
River, N. Windham, and So. Kent,
Conn. I have also received it from
Toronto, Can. (C. Hills) ; Ft. Ancient,
O., Williamsville, Mo. (S. W. Dcn-
ton) ; Vigo and Marshall Co's, Incl.
(Bl~itchley) ; Hot Springs, Dak. (Bni-
ncr). Bruner (in 1itt.l reports it from
E. and N. W. Neb., Kas., Ill., Va., S.
Dak., Iowa, Texas. In addition to
many of these localities, Scudder's col- lection contains examples from Georgia,
N. Car., ant1 Cola., 6300-7000 feet.
The National Museum material con-
sists of specimens from Ind., June 29
(Bollman) ; Washington, D. C., and
Texas. Piof. Garman reports it from
eastern and Western Kentucky (Orth.
of Ky., p. 9, -6th ann. rept. Ky, agr.
exp. sta.).
Spharagemon robusturn sp. nov.(?)
I 9. Coahuilti, Mex., in Scudder's
collection, labeled " Spharagemon n.
sp."
Antenna
Hind fern. Tee. Body. Told. PTO. Metai.
16.5 20.6 36.5
39 46.5 3.1 6.6 nun.
Of Texas specimens of bolli
3 5-3
This may be only an extremely large
form of boZZi.
The only specimen seen
differs, in addition to its larger size and more robust form of head and body, in
having the posterior process of the pro- notu~n more produced (as shown by
the measurements), distinctly acutc-
angled, with excavated sides and the
median carina less elevated on the pro-
zona and less compressed tlirougho~~t.
(See remarks under cristafzm.)
Spharagemon inornatum sp. nov.
I ?, Hot Springs, N. Mex., 7000
feet all. Received from Prof. Bmner.
Hind fern. Teg. Body. Total.
19 29 31.5 36mm.
Similar to ioZZi but lacks the fuscous
and pale markings of the hind tibiae,
which are pale reddish throughout, and
thc inner side of the hind femora has
the two basal fuscous bands obsolete in
the tibia1 sulc~~s. Two additional fe-
males in Brunei's collection have hind
tibiae as above. Male unknown. The
pronotal carina is scarcely as high as
in bolli and is sharply and equally
compressed throughout.
-




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292 PSYCHE. [October 1895.
GROUP 11. AEQUALK SEHIES. put, the eyes appearing more promi- nent in consequence;
and in having
Pronotum carinate, carina often sin-
the prozona proportionally shorter than
uate on prozona, otherwise as in Group in the average specimen of aequale. 111. The hind tibiae are unicoloro~~s, red ; Synopsis of Species.
Eyes larger, subprominent, smaller, = about like aequale = i (8) tot (9) the % (8) to4 (9)
height of face from said height
crown to clypeus
Width of head = width across eyes distinctly more like aepale across cheeks (S)i or a little more than across eyes, (9) especially in 9
Crown of head flat
in front view
convex a little convex
Width of vertex = ( f? ), or a little more distinctly more like aequale between eyes, than (Q), the width of
( (? ), or twice
dorsal view an eye ( 9 ), width of
eY
Carina s~~bcristate or carinate carinate very low, scarcely carhate
Post. process of acute-angled (8 ) ; usually rectang., like aepale pronoturn slightly so orrect. (9). sometimes acute Spharagemon humile sp. nov.
2 f?, Garden of the Gods, Colo., in
Scucklcr's collection.
Antenna. Hind fern. Teg. Body, Total.
3.5-14 t3-I3.3 25-26 24.6-25 31-5-33
These specimens differ from aepule
in having the carina very low, it being
scarcely more than an elevated line;
in having less tumid cheeks and occi-
mcl the hind femora lack fuscous in the
basal part of the tibia1 sulcus. The
coloration is markedly rosaceous in
tint. Thcy arc so nearly intermediate,
both in coloration and pronotal struct-
ure, between the forms of series I and
I1 with least developed cariria that
their correct position is open to a doubt which could be readily settled by ex-
amination of more material.




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October cXQå´I. PSYCHE. 293
Spharagemon aequale Say.
Grylltis aepalis. Say, Journ. acad.
nat. sc. Phila. ser. I, v. 4, p. 307,'-
Ainer. ent., ed. Leconte, v. 2, p. 237.
(1825.)
Sfharagemon aequale Say. Scnd-
der, Proc. Boston soc. nat. hist., v. 17, 469; Ent. notes, iv, 68; r f (Boll,
No. 105) in collection, labeled at time
ot revision.
Spharapon aegziale Bruner (in
lit,'.) å´ on Thomas' authority."
Sphwagemon cullare Scndd. Bru-
net-, in Nat. mus. coll., labeled thus.
Spharctgemon bolZiScucId. Brunei',
in Nat. mils. coll., labeled thus.
Spharagemo?~ zuyuming-ianum
Thos. (?) in Nat. mns. coll., labeled
thus.
Oed. zitahensis Thos, Thomas.
in Nat. mus. coll., labeled thus.
H[adrotettix] trifasciata Say.
Scndder (I 8, I 9 , Texas, Belfrage)
in collection, thus labeled.
Dissosteira texensis Saussure is per-
haps a synonym of this species.
While it is now impossible, owing
to the destruction of the types, to iden- tify with certainty the species described by Say, and while I regret to disturb
existing nomenclature, it is yet neces-
sary to apply Say's name to that spe-
cies which the description best fits
which inhabits the territory from which
the types were procured. The most
valuable diagnostic characters of the
species of this genus are those relating to the structure of the pronotum and
marking of the hind legs. This spe-
cies, better than any other, agrees with Say's statements " The thorax is not
gradually raised into a cariiia, but the line is abrupt and of little elevation," and "Hind thighs within with four black
bands." It is found in the territory
traversed by Say (see Morse, - Proc.
Boston soc. nat. hist., xxvi, 223) and
is widespread. For these reasons, and
from the tact that Harris's description
of aegzale from Massachusetts indi-
cates the species most closely allied to this of those found there, 1 have ap-
plied Say's name to it.
It seems probable that texensis
Sauss. (Prod. Ocd., 135-137, 140) was
applied to a Texas form of this species, but from an examination of over sixty
specimens from various parts of the
West,'although much variation occurs