SCOLYTUS, © 121 
1, Second abdominal segment unarmed. . . . 1. 1 1 we ee propinguus, sp. n. 
Second abdominal segment with a median apophysis. . . . . . . «. 2 
2. Elytra shining, regularly punctate-striate . . . . 1. 1. 6. ee ee Be 
Elytra dull, with very numerous striz, the interstices narrow, costate . . costellatus, Chap. 
3. Elytra uniform black (or piceous). . . 2. . 1... we ee ee dimidiatus, Chap. 
Elytra brown, with the suture and margins black. . . . . . . . . marginatus, Chap. 
1. Scolytus propinquus, sp. n. 
Nitidus, niger, fronte dense villosa; prothorace latitudine sublongiore, lateribus dense fortiter, disco subtiliter 
_ punctato; elytris prothorace fere brevioribus, punctato-striatis, interstitiis singulis serie punctorum 
_ eequalium substriata ornatis, abdominis segmento 2° mutico. 
Long. 3—4 millim. 
Closely allied in form and sculpture to S. dimidiatus, from which it differs thus :—Front villous, with much 
finer hairs, not confined to the margin, erect and slightly curled inwards; the villosity stronger in one 
example, probably a male. Punctuation of the prothorax finer over the discal area. Interstitial punc- 
tures of the elytra stronger, and equal to those of the stric, interstices transversely rugose towards the 
base. Second ventral segment of the abdomen with no trace of any armature; ventral pubescence a 
little longer. 
Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (Hége), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith); Guatemata, 
Chacoj (Champion). 
Only one example has been taken at each locality. ‘The species is likely to be passed 
over as S, dimidiatus if the structure of the abdomen be not noticed. A single 
specimen taken by Conradt at Tucuru in Vera Paz appears to be distinct from this 
species and S. dimidiatus. It has the front aciculate, which is not the case in 
S. propinguus; the elytral strie and the rows of punctures of the interstices are not 
impressed, and the latter are finer than the punctures of the striae; the second 
abdominal segment is unarmed. As the specimen is immature, it is hardly desirable 
to describe it under a separate name. 
2. Scolytus dimidiatus. (Tab. V. fige. 7, front, ¢: 8, 2; 8a, front; 84, 
abdomen.) 
Scolytus dimidiatus, Chap. Syn. Scol. p. 57 (Mém. Soc. Liége, 1873, p. 265)". 
Black, shining. Front (¢) entirely concealed by a dense marginal fringe of glossy brown hair, thickest and 
decumbent at the vertex, reaching the mouth, thinner and curled inwards at the sides; front (9 ) flat, 
shining, subimpunctate, with a strong tubercle below the middle, fringed at the sides only with curled 
hairs. Prothorax as long or longer than broad, the apical submarginal impression narrow and shallow ; 
surface strongly punctured at the sides and towards the apex, where the punctures tend to form longitu- 
dinal rows, less strongly and closely over the middle, the median smooth line not evident. Scutellum 
triangular, deeply depressed. Elytra not longer than the prothorax, sometimes shorter, their postero- 
lateral angles subserrate, the hind margins sometimes separately rounded ; surface little elevated towards 
apex, with narrow punctured strie, the interstices narrow, with single rows of rather finer punctures, 
often substriate, especially towards the apex. Abdomen black, dull, finely punctured, 2nd segment with 
a short blunt apophysis, sometimes laterally compressed ; above it (Q) is a tuft of hairs. Legs black, 
the knees, tibiee, and tarsi partly red. 
Length: g, 2°9-3°5 millim.; 2, 2-4-4:7 millim. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt. 6, May 1896. RR 
