NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 399 



ANECTUS n. g. 



Generic characters as in Branch us Lee, with the following exceptions: 

 Antennae more slender and elongate, the ninth joint rather suddenly dilated. 

 Mentum trapezoidal sides less rounded and less emarginate anteriorly. Gular 

 peduncle smaller, with the median notch hardly evident. Anterior tibiae 

 slightly emarginate at apex, outer angle not prolonged externally. Intercoxal 

 process of abdomen rectangularly truncate. 



This genus, indicated but not named by Le Conte (Class. Col. N. Am.), may 

 be readily distinguished by the preceding characters from Branchus. 



vest itu s, oval, very convex, black and opaque, densely clothed with short 

 ochraceous pubescense. Head very densely and coarsely punctured, front tri- 

 angularly impressed, epistome ferruginous ; thorax at base one-half broader 

 than long, densely and coarsely punctured, much narrower anteriorly and 

 broadly emarginate ; sides broadly rounded, at base broadly lobed ; posterior 

 angles slightly produced ; above with a slight transverse impression termina- 

 ting in two fovae, and four oblique slightly elevated lines arranged in anterior 

 and posterior pairs. Elytra very convex, obscurely costate and foveolate ; 

 marginal ridge not reaching the apex. Beneath finely and sparsely punctured. 



Long. -63, lat. -35. Honduras. Cabinet of Dr. Le Conte. 



This species is much more convex and more regularly oval than any of the 

 other Branchini. The legs are also more slender, and the insect has the appear- 

 ance of being able to move with considerable rapidity. 



The tribe Branchini presents some difficulties regarding its proper classifica- 

 tion. The prominent ligula points to some affinity with the Praocini, but as 

 this organ is undoubtedly retractile, and capable of being protruded, its value 

 as a means of classifying the tribes of the Asididae seems hardly apparent. The 

 removal of certain tribes and parts of tribes (Scaurini pars, Blaptini, Fimeliini. 

 'Molurini pars, Pedinini, Opatrini and Trachyscelini,) this great subfamily 

 becomes more homogenous and capable of classification. The tribes above 

 mentioned have the posterior margins of the third and fourth ventral segments 

 coriaceous, a character of great value in the subdivision of the family Tene- 

 brionidae. 



The Branchini seem to have closer affinities with the Asidini and Nycteliini. 

 The prominent emarginate labrum, the contour of the front, and the slightly 

 channeled tarsi seem to point toward the Asidini, while the broad emarginate 

 and fissured gular peduncle and the form of the maxillary palpi indicate their 

 affinity with the Nycteliini. The form of the antennae serves to distinguish it 

 from both tribes, the eleventh joint being as large as the preceding, depressed, 

 and rounded at the extremity. 



The following table will serve to distinguish the tribes of the subfamily 

 Asididae, characterized by the presence of a trochantin to the middle coxae, and 

 the hind margins of the ventral segments entirely corneous : 



Head rhomboidal, narrowed behind. 1. 



" short, not narrowed. 2. 



1. Labrum prominent. Thorax emarginate Akisini. 



Labrum partially concealed. Thorax scarcely 



emarginate C ry p t ogl o s si n i. 



2. Last joint of maxillary palpi securiform Asidini. 



" " " " not securiform 



Gula sulcate. 3. 



" not sulcate. 4. 



3. Antennae slender, last three joints broader Branchini. 



Antennae robust, last joint generally smaller N y c t e 1 i i 11 i. 



4. Maxillae unarmed P hy soga s t eri ni. 



Maxilla? with a corneous hook. 



Scutellum large, covering in great part the meso- 



thoracic peduncle Molurini. 



1866.] 



