114 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, 



in the i6th Report of the State Entomologist of Illinois, being 

 the 5th Report of S. A. Forbes for 1887-88, pp. 58-74, and 

 plates I, II and III in part. 



As this species is evidently local, and perhaps in many collec- 

 tions as an indeterminate, a presentation here of its distinguishing 

 characters may be opportune, as comparatively few, to whom it 

 might be useful, are likely to meet with the Report in which the 

 description is published. 



Sphenophorus minimus Hart. Black, opaque when denuded, covered 

 with a thin cinereous indument, argillaceous in the large punctures, ex- 

 cept rostrum before antennae; antennal club and basal portion of anterior 

 femora internally, shining black; funicle and tarsi polished rufous. Ros- 

 trum, ;j\ half as long as thorax, finely punctured for a short distance in 

 front of the eyes and not deeply canaliculate, slightly arcuate, moderately 

 compressed, scarcely wider to tip, base abruptly dilated over the scrobes 

 and coarsely punctured, as is likewise the head; thorax longer than wide, 

 nearly as wide as the elytra, moderately constricted at apex, base and 

 apex behind constriction subequal, slightly widest before middle, behind 

 which the sides are nearly parallel to base, which is roundly truncate each 

 side; surface sparsely, irregularly variolato-punctate, with large shallow 

 punctures; a small, median, smooth space, tending to obsolescence, or to 

 project backwards as a fine line; anterior constriction with close-placed, 

 discrete, shallow, variolate punctures to margin; scutellum elongate, nar- 

 row, not channeled, coated normally, but liable to abrasion. Elytra widest 

 near base, gradually narrower to tip, finely striate, striae each with a few 

 distant, coarse, variolate punctures placed transversely in rows, the de- 

 pressions around which make the surface uneven; intervals flat, equal, 

 when denuded finely uniseriately punctured; pygidium shallowly punc- 

 tured, pubescent with yellow bristles near tip, and on each side of apex 

 with a small tuft. Underside with small, discrete, variolate punctures. 

 The centre of all the punctures is luteous, which, contrasted with the 

 cinereous surface, causes a spotted appearance. Length 5 mm. 



This species belongs to the fifth section of Dr. Geo. H. Horn's 

 synopsis (Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. Phil, xiii, 421), where it forms a 

 third division under Section A, with this definition: Thorax 

 sparsely and irregularly punctured with large variolate punctures. 

 The above characters are derived from the two specimens in my 

 collection. Mr. Hart's description was made from six males and 

 five females, taken from floating driftwood and logs near water, 

 at Urbana and Springfield, 111. Length 5-6 mm. The smallest 

 species in our fauna, Mr. Hart says. I have ten examples of 

 parvulus from Illinois and Iowa, none of which exceed 5 mm. 

 Measurements from anterior margin of thorax. 



