OSTOMID^E IO7 



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Parafilumis n. gen. 



There are three points of difference between this proposed genus 

 and Corticotomus, those relating to the form of the labial palpi, 

 proportion of the abdominal segments and to the system of elytral 

 sculpture. The last joint of the labial palpi in Corticotomus is 

 arcuately fusoid, the apex being much narrower than the maximum 

 thickness of the joint, while here the apex is broad, rectilinearly 

 truncate and about as wide as at the middle, rather rapidly narrowed 

 basally. The last two ventral segments are the shortest and are 

 mutually equal in length in that genus, while here segments one to 

 three gradually and evenly decrease in length, the fourth subequalto 

 the third, or even a little longer, and the fifth much the shortest of 

 all. In Corticotomus the punctures of the elytra are serially arranged, 

 even when the series are only partially impressed, while here the 

 minute punctures are arranged without order, there being no trace 

 of series of any kind. In all other characters the two genera are, 

 however, very much alike, including the very remarkable base of 

 the elytra, with its perforate foramen within the humeri. This is 

 not mentioned by any systematist that I am able to consult, but it 

 is indicated in the drawing of Corticotomus basalis Shp., given in the 

 "Biologia." If Corticotomus californicus Van D., really belongs 

 to this genus, it would prove the latter to be a type of the tribe 

 peculiar to the true Pacific coast fauna, which seems to be probable. 

 The type of Parafilumis may be described as follows : 



Parafilumis estriata n. sp. Slender, convex, parallel, very feebly 

 inflated posteriorly, pale testaceous in color throughout and strongly 

 shining, the micro-reticulation feeble even on the elytra; head as wide 

 as the prothorax and a little shorter, without the mandibles wider than 

 long, very porrect, gradually turned upward apically; surface of the 

 vertex and front broadly flattened, finely and not densely punctate, the 

 punctures elongate; frontal margin with a broad and sinuate median 

 lobe; eyes moderate and slightly prominent, transversely oval and at 

 three-fifths from the base of the head proper, the tempora parallel; under 

 surface upwardly convex, very long behind the shallow buccal opening; 

 antennae moderate, the first joint large, subglobular, the second rather 

 wider and longer than the third, 3-8 gradually very little larger, compactly 

 joined, rather longer than wide distally; club loose, eccentric, as long as 

 the preceding seven joints, the inner surface of the joints sensitive through- 

 out the length, except on the ninth joint where the sensitive area does not 

 attain the base; prothorax slightly elongate, gradually narrowed from the 

 truncate apex to the rounded base, near the base much narrower than the 

 elytral base; side margin finely reflexed, becoming altogether obsolete 



