THE CANAIDIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 181 



The variety is much paler than the type form, which is purplish-black m 

 color. The ^ clasper (fig. 5) narrows rapidly at its distal end and bears a 

 strono- spine-like projection on its ventral side shortly before apex. 



x\OTES ON THE MORDELLIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. 



BY EMIL LILJKBLAD, 

 Chicago, 111. 



Note on sexual dimorphism in the MordcUidac. — Not only in Tomaxia, as 

 described by Mr. C. A. Frost.* but also in many ( and probably all) the species 

 of Mordclla and Mordfllistena, a comb-like series of coarse setae is developed in 

 each anterior femur of the male only. In all Mordellidae studied by the writer 

 in this regard, the males are somewhat smaller and notably slenderer than the 

 females. In at least two species of Mordcllistena {M. syntaenia and M. pulchra, 

 as described below), there exists a sexual difference in the number of tibial 

 ridges. In some species of the family, for example Mordellisfcna pulchra (q.v.), 

 the sexes further dififer in color. 



1. Biclidia inyoensis, sp. nov. 



Body elongate, nearly parallel in the male, more robust in the female; finely 



transversely-strigate. Head dark reddish-brown, mouth-parts fusco-testaceous, 

 dark brown palpi excepted ; eyes black ; antennae reddish-brown, a little lighter 

 toward the base; prothorax and elytra dark reddish-browm ; under surfaces dark 

 brown, except the prosternum in the male, which is much lighter in color; legs 

 testaceous in male, fusco-testaceous in female. Eyes granulate and rather 

 deeply emarginate. Antennae with the first and second joints about equal in 

 length, each one-fourth shorter than the third, which is a little shorter than the 

 fourth, in the niale ; the third and fourth joints equal in the female, of about the 

 same length as the second; sixth to tenth joints in both sexes about equal, each 

 widening toward apex, and each shorter than the fifth; eleventh joint pointed at 

 tip, twice as long as the tenth. Prothorax one-third wider than long, widest at 

 base, its sides rapidly converging to apex, mesosternum compressed and slightly 

 elevated ; elytra as wide as thorax- at base, rather abruptly rounded at apex, 

 especially in the male ; sixth ventral segment visible. The males have on each 

 side of the oedeagus' a rather long flattened, triangular appendage, rounded at 

 apex, and with several setae (this, however, can only be seen if the genital organ is 

 extruded). Length of male , 2mm.; of female, 2.25 mm. Breadth of male, 

 0.75 mm.; of female, 1.0 



Eight specimens examined, all from the Inyo Mountains. California, at an 

 elevation of 7,000-9,000 feet; collected on July 7-11 by Prof. H. F. Wickhani. 

 The male holotype and female allotype are deposited in the writer's collection; 

 paratypes in the collection of Prof. H. F. Wickhani. from whom the specimens 

 were received. 



This species somewhat resembles Anthobatcs fnscnhis Lee. but the antennae 

 are longer- and the third and fourth joints are about equal in length, the fourth 

 not being reduced in size as it is in Anthobatcs. 



*Ent. News, XXIV., 191S, p. 127. 



