126 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '13 



Notes on Tomoxta bidentata Say and lineella Lee. 



(Coleop.). 



By C. A. FROST, Framingham, Mass. 



In the Coleoptera of Indiana, page 1311, the statement is 

 made that Tomo.via lineella "is now recognized as the male of 

 bidentata." Mr. Blatchley informs me that this statement is 

 founded, in part at least, on a note by Mr. Linell in Entomo- 

 logica Americana, Vol. Ill, page 171, and a letter from the 

 late Prof. J. B. Smith, in which he expresses this belief. 



Mr. Linell's note records the fact that he took a series of 

 bidentata on a certain log and the next year a series of lineella 

 on the same log, but does not explain just how this indicates 

 specific identity. He also mentions the shape of the palpi 

 in lineella as suggesting the male. 



The suppression of a species on such evidence is entirely 

 unwarranted, to say the least, and I offer the following notes 

 to show that lineella differs not only specifically but also in 

 one important character that has been used, with others, to 

 separate allied genera. (Synop. Mordellidae of U. S. by John 

 L, LeConte, M.D., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc., Phil., 1862, p. 43.) 



I refer to the fact, which I have not been able to find in 

 print, that the eyes in lineella extend to the posterior margin 

 of the head. I have examined about ten specimens, including 

 the type of this species and also the type of inclusa which 

 agrees with lineella in this character. 



In addition to this generic character it will be seen that, in 

 lineella, the anal style is longer and more slender, the apices 

 of the elytra are separately rounded and with a distinct mar- 

 gin, and that the sutural angles are not mucronate. 



In bidentata the elytral apices are obliquely truncate with- 

 out distinct margin, and with the sutural angles prolonged in 

 a short spine. The posterior margin of the eye is separated 

 from the posterior margin of the head by a relatively broad 

 pubescent area, which is interrupted near the upper part of 

 the eye by a triangular, glabrous area having the upper side 

 limited by a slight arcuate ridge and having the posterior apex 

 of the triangle extending to the posterior margin of the head. 



