270 [February, 



Synopsis of the Pyrochroides of the United States. 



By John L. Le Conte, M. D. 



The definition under which I include the native genera helow mentioned, 

 some of which have been widely separated by preceeding authors, may be thus 

 expressed. 



Coleoptera heteromera, capite postice coarctato, collo (Hstincto thoraci affixo; 

 oculis emar^inatis praecipue magnis ; abdomine articulis 5 vel 6 liberis, para- 

 pleuris parallelis; coxis anticis contiguis conicis, acetabulis postice imperfectis ; 

 tarsis articulo penultimo saepissime calceato vel emarginato, unguibus iam ad 

 basin dentatis, iam simplicibus, raro appendici basali elongata (sicut in Meloi- 

 dis pluribus) instructis. 



Thus the group differs from Anthicidae by the emarginate eyes and paral- 

 lel parapleural ; while dentate or appendiculate ungues are not found in that 

 family. 



In Lagriariae the anterior acetabula are closed posteriorly and the coxae are 

 small; the head too is hardly constricted. 



Our genera may be thus arranged : 



A. Collum crassum: tarsi articulo penultimo emarginato: ungues simplices : 



abdomen 5-articulatum. 

 Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo dilatato, triangulari Eurygenius Ferte 



Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo elongato, cultriformi Stereopalpus Ferte 



B. Collum tenue, tarsi articulo penultimo lobato, abdomen 5-articulatum, ar- 



ticulo lmo longiore: ungues dente magno armati. 

 Antennae articulis 3 ultimis maioribus, elongatis Macratria Newman 



C. Collum tenue ; tarsi articulo penultimo praecipue lobato : abdomen articulo 



lmo hand longiore: palpi maxillares articulo ultimo longiore. 

 f Ungues dente magno armati : abdomen 6-articu latum PedWus Fischer 



ft Unrues vix dentati ; abdomen % 6-articulatum, 9 5-articulatum. 

 Ungues hand appendiculati : tarsi lobati. 

 Oculi distantes 

 Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo subtriangulari Pyrochroa Fair. 

 Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo ovali Schizotus Newman 



Oculi maximi approximati Dendroides Latr. 



Ungues appendice filiformi elongata instructi : tarsi fili- 



formes. Nematoplus Lee. 



D. Collum tenue; ungues simplices minuti ; palpi articulo valde dilatato : 



abdomen 5-articulatum, articulo lmo haud longiore. Xylophilus Bon. 



Eurygenius Ferte. 



1, E. Wildii, niger breviter nigro-hispidus, capite thoraceque densissime 

 pubescentibus, hoc canaliculato, campanulato, latitudine non longiore, elytris 

 pube sordida subvittatis. Long. *42. 



Kentucky : a fine specimen of this species was recently given me by Mr. J. P. 

 Wild, of Baltimore, to whom I dedicate it with great pleasure, as a slight testi- 

 mony of my appreciation of his great energy and success in collecting similar 

 objects. 



Larger than the following species. The head and thorax are very densely 

 clothed with brownish grey hair, with scattered suberect black hairs, and are 

 confluently punctured : the former is finely channelled between the eyes. The 

 thorax is subcordate, not longer than wide, canaliculate, much rounded on the 

 sides before ihe middle, with the anterior constriction distinct. The ehtra are 

 one half wider than the thorax, densely and coarsely punctured, with short black 

 hairs proceeding from each puncture; they are irregularly mottled with dense 

 brownish grey pubescence, with four narrow blackish vittae on each. Beneath 

 densely covered with grayish hair. 



2. E. murinus, niger breviter nigro-hispidus, cinereo-pubescens, thorsice 



