LECHRIOPS. 91 
LECHRIOPS. 
Lechriops, Schénherr, Cure. Disp. Meth. p. 8306 (1826); Gen. Cure. iv. p. 259; Lacordaire, Gen. 
Col. vi. p. 149 ; Heller, Abhandl. Mus. Dresd. no. 11, pp. 38, 14. 
Gelus, Casey, Ann. N. York Acad. Sci. ix. pp. 667, 668 (1897). 
Under this genus are included a large number of small forms closely related to 
Copturus, with the mesosternum, and often the intercoxal portion of the metasternum 
also (fig. 13 6), excavate for the reception of the rostrum; the femora unidentate, the 
anterior pair without strigose area, the posterior pair not reaching beyond the apex of 
the abdomen, and usually more or less distinctly carinate externally, the knees unarmed 
or feebly spined; and the second joint of the funiculus moderately elongate *, often 
not longer than the first. The numerous allied species with unarmed, non-carinate 
femora belong to Kulechriops, Faust, and are here placed under that generic name. 
The type of Lechriops is Khynchenus sciurus, Fabr.+, a 8.-American insect with 
a comparatively short rostrum and correspondingly short antenne, and about twenty 
other forms are referred to the same genus by Dr. Heller (though none were 
described by him) in his important work on the American Zygopides. Upwards of 
thirty species are here recognized from within our limits, but some of these are so 
imperfectly segregated that it is almost impossible to separate them satisfactorily, as 
they differ only in the size, colour, and arrangement of the scales, characters that 
may prove to be more variable than is generally supposed. 
The following table will assist in the identification of the Central-American forms :— 
a. Rostral canal extending into the intercoxal portion of the metasternum. 
a’. Joint 2 of the funiculus as long as or longer than 1; elytral interstices 
wider than the striz (except in L. canescens). 
a*, Prothorax hollowed at the apex, with broadly rounded ocular lobes ; 
eyes very large; joint 4 of the funiculus longer than 3 in the 2 . . Species 1. 
b*. Prothorax less hollowed or truncate at the apex, without definite ocular 
lobes; joint 4 of the funiculus not longer than 3. 
a’. Body oblong-ovate; elytra with a white spot on the suture, the 
alternate interstices rufescent . . . . . . . . . . . ~ . Species 2. 
5°. Body rhomboidal, ovate, or elliptic. 
a’. Meso- and metasternal excavation shallow; vestiture of body 
coarse and white . ....... =... . =. . . . Species 3-5. 
6". Meso- and metasternal excavation deep. 
a’. Elytral interstices almost smooth, the inner ones finely punctate, 
the strie narrow, deep, and sharply cut ; vestiture of body fine. Species 6. 
* Except in L. copturoides. 
t We are indebted to Dr. Aurivillius for the loan of the ahraded example of this species in the Stockholm 
Museum. 
NN 2 
