R.UTELIN/E 59 



Strigodermella n. gen. 



The genus Strigoderma, as considered by Bates, includes four or five 

 different generic groups, of which I would suggest one dismember- 

 ment under the above name. The species are of very small size and, 

 because of their oblong form and deficient elytral striation, have a 

 markedly different habitus from the larger species of the preceding 

 genus, which have closely and regularly sulcate elytra. Besides 

 this the ligula is relatively longer and flat, while in Strigoderma it 

 is generally more or less concave; in pimalis, however, it is flat. 

 The intermesocoxal space is variable in degree of tumidity. We 

 have but one species as follows: 



Form oblong, moderately convex, shining, black throughout, the anterior 

 parts above with feeble violaceou? or greenish lustre; elytra entirely 

 black, except about three small pale spots on each, to entirely pale 

 with the suture black and the external margin and a few small 

 discal spots brownish; head densely punctato-rugose, the clypeus 

 not quite parallel, rectilinearly truncate, with rather narrowly 

 rounded angles, the edges rather strongly reflexed, the surface flat, 

 the suture fine but deep and distinct; eyes very moderate, not 

 prominent; antennal club not quite as long as the entire stem; 

 prothorax two-fifths wider than long, the sides obtusely prominent 

 before the middle, thence nearly straight and parallel to feebly 

 converging to the base, converging apically, the prominent angles 

 blunt at tip, the basal slightly more than right but only narrowly 

 rounded; base medially lobed, the bead coarse and entire; surface 

 evenly and moderately convex, not coarsely, irregularly punctate, 

 sparsely medially, more closely antero-sublaterally, where the inter- 

 spaces have also minute and very close punctulation, generally 

 extending obliquely toward the middle of the base; scutellum closely 

 but discretely, rather deeply punctate; elytra as wide as long, very 

 broadly rounded at apex, parallel, with slightly arcuate sides and a 

 little wider than the prothorax, the coarse though shallow striae 

 about seven in total number, closely but not deeply punctate, uneven 

 laterally; pygidium with loose, feeble and irregular sculpture, tumid 

 subcentrally; tooth of the anterior tibiae acute and well developed, 

 near the base of the reflexed and gradually acute apical process; 

 hind tibiae shorter than the femora or tarsi; intermesocoxal surface 

 in the form of a narrow ridge. Length (cf) 4.6-5.2 mm.; width 

 2.6-2.9 mm. New Jersey to Florida. Very abundant. [Melolontha 

 pygmcea Fabr.] pygmaea Fabr. 



All of the very numerous examples in my collection seem to be 

 males and I have therefore not recognized the female, but in the 

 allied though notably different marginata Oliv., of Central America, 

 the sexual differences are very pronounced but were not alluded to 



