Mecidea Dallas

Type Species: Mecidea: Mecidea indica Dallas, 1851, by subsequent designation (Distant, 1902). Cerataulax: Cerataulax quadrivittatus Signoret, 1851, by monotypy.

Included Species:
balachowskyii Villiers, 1954
indica Dallas, 1851
kristenseni Jensen-Haarup, 1922
lindbergi Wagner, 1954
     var. virescens Wagner, 1954 [described as color form]
linearis Dallas, 1851
longula Stål, 1854
lutzi Sailer, 1952
major Sailer, 1952
minor Ruckes, 1946
     tasquillana Brailovsky, 1977 [junior synonym]
pallida Stål, 1854
     var. virens Vidal, 1949 [junior synonym]
pallidissima Jensen-Haarup, 1922
     ingramsi China, 1937 [junior synonym]
     lepineyi Lindberg, 1938 [junior synonym]
     straminea Vidal, 1949 [junior synonym]
     lepineyi Vidal, 1949 [junior synonym]
     sahariana Wagner, 1949 [junior synonym]
     vidali Sailer, 1952 [unnecessary new name]
     cadenati Villiers, 1956 [junior synonym]
pampeana Sailer, 1952
prolixa Stål, 1858
quadrivittata (Signoret, 1851)
rungsi Vidal, 1949
tellinii Schouteden, 1905

Key to Species Mediterranean Species
(modified from Derzhansky & Péricart, 2005)

1 Distance from apex of juga to an imaginary line passing through center of ocelli no more than 1.2 times the width of head through compound eyes	2
- Distance from apex of juga to an imaginary line passing through center of ocelli 1.3 times the width of head through compound eyes (Morocco)	rungsi Vidal

2(1) Second antennal segment, in both sexes, distinctly expanded, thickened at base; in male specimens, second antennal segment very short, 0.4-0.7 times the length of third antennal segment; in female specimens, second antennal segment 1.33-2.0 times the length of third antennal segment; overall somewhat smaller and more slender; eyes relatively small; head from imaginary line drawn through ocelli to apex 1.15-1.35 times as long as width through eyes; length 7.0-10.7 mm.	pallidissima Jensen-Haarup
- Second antennal segment, in both sexes, at most only slightly expanded; overall longer and more stout; eyes relatively large	3

3(2) Body remarkably stout, color always straw yellow; head shorter than wide; second antennal segment not or only very slightly widened at base; length 12.5-13.3 mm.	pallida Stål
- Body noticeably more elongate, punctures usually brown; head narrower, longer than wide; second antennal segment somewhat more distinctly widened at base; length 11.5-12 mm.	lindbergi Wagner

Key to Species New World Species
(modified from Sailer, 1952)

1 Abdomen with dark markings along midventral line	minor Ruckes
- Abdomen lacking dark markings along midventral line	2

2(1) Males	3
- Females	7

3(2) Pygophore with small tubercle near posteroventral margin	minor Ruckes
- Posteroventral surface of pygophore lacking small tubercle	4

4(3) Third antennal segment shorter than second segment	major Sailer
- Third antennal segment equal to or longer than second segment	5

5(4) Black spots just below trichobothria larger, each with greatest diameter equal to one-eighth the length of supporting segment	major Sailer
- Black spots just below trichobothria smaller, each with greatest diameter no more than one-twelth the length of supporting segment	6

6(5) Pronotum strongly constricted just anterior to humeral angles	longula Stål
- Pronotum with each anterolateral margin regularly and shallowly concave from humeral angle to anterior angle	pampeana Sailer

7(2) Third antennal segment cylindrical	longula Stål
- Third antennal segment flattened dorsally at least along basal third	8

8(7) Black spots just below trichobothria larger, each with greatest diameter equal to one-eighth the length of supporting segment	major Sailer
- Black spots just below trichobothria smaller, each with greatest diameter no more than one-twelth the length of supporting segment	9

9(8) Width of pronotum just behind cicatrices not exceeding length of second antennal segment	minor Ruckes
- Width of pronotum just behind cicatrices equal to length of second antennal segment plus at least one-half diameter of eye	pampeana Sailer

David A. Rider
Professor of Entomology
North Dakota State University
202 Hultz Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
E-Mail: David.Rider@ndsu.edu