Podisma (Latr.) is a particularly interesting genus of Melanopli, since it is the only one of that immense group that occurs in the Old World, where, indeed, it is represented by considerably more described species than it is in North America. It is also of interest from its distinctly boreal and alpine distribution, being almost peculiar to high latitudes or altitudes. It is a circumpolar genus, inhabiting the mountains and boreal parts of Europe, Asia and North America, a larger number of species having been described from Europe than elsewhere.