rnir.K xvm. I'.ARIXI. 349 



The species of Baris are usually taken in sweeping low moist 

 meadows, the larva 1 breeding in the roots, or the steins near the 

 roots, of various plants. They channel the roots beneath the bark 

 and pupate in their burrows. For example, B. ntoii<ir<l:r Pierce 

 has been bred in Texas from the roots of the lemon bergamot, 

 3f<jnnl<i ci.h-io<lor<i Oerv., Tierce having found the larva 1 in every 

 root on June _M. On October 4 these had nearly all become adult, 

 requiring five months for development from the egg and hiber- 

 nating as adults in the roots. The genus, as at present limited, 

 is a very large one, 48 North American species having been rec- 

 ognized by Tasey, who has compared most of our specimens 

 with his types. For convenience they are separated into three 

 groups as follows: 



KEY TO GROUPS OF EASTERN SPECIES OF BARIS. 



o. Scutellum short, wider than long (except in callicla) , broadly and 

 deeply impressed; front coxa? narrowly separated; tibiae sinuate on 

 outer side and prominent near apex; impression between head and 

 beak feeble; body never with bronzed surface lustre. 



GROUP A, p. 349. 



<tu. Scutellum small, subquadrate or rounded, not broadly impressed; 

 front coxae more widely separated; tibiae straight; impression be- 

 tween head and beak usually strong, broadly angulate when viewed 

 from the side; body often with bronzed surface lustre. 

 b. Thorax large, distinctly more than one-half as long as elytra, its 

 median line, viewed from the side, strongly sloping toward apex; 

 beak very short, one-half to three-fourths as long as thorax. 



GROUP B, p. 352. 



lil). Thorax short, not more than half the length of elytra, its median 

 line feebly curved, not strongly sloping toward apex; beak Varia- 

 ble but usually nearly as long or longer than thorax. 



GROUP C, p. 355. 

 GROUP A. 



Species of robust form, :>.!' ">.8 mm. in length. The males 

 have the first ventral segment and basal half of second broadly 

 and deeply impressed. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF CROUP A. 



. Scutellum wider than long and impressed. 

 I). Elytra at least twice as long as thorax. 



c. Intervals of elytra strongly elevated and suhequal in width. 

 (I. Humeral callus prominent, the elytra being abruptly and dis- 

 tinctly wider than thorax, their sides parallel in basal two- 

 thirds; abdomen with short, sparse setae. 520. STRIATA. 

 del. Humeral callus not prominent; body oval, the thorax strongly 

 narrowed from base. 521. UMBILICATA. 



