302 [Dec, 1845. 



Descriptions of New Species of Coleoptera of the United States. 

 By F. E. Melsheimer, M. D. 



(Continued from page 223.) 



Lampyridae, Latr. 



Ltgistopterus, Dej. Catal. 



L. lateralis. Black ; thorax with the lateral margins, and anterior lateral 

 fourth of the elytra yellow. — 5| 1. long; 2 1. wide. Pennsylvania. 



Head small, black, produced anteriorly into a rostrum, which is more than 

 half the length of the thorax : antennae black, joints compressed, second small, 

 subglobular, third slightly longer than the fourth : thorax subquadrate, wider at 

 base than long, where it is nearly as wide as the base of the elytra; sides obtuse- 

 ly rounded before the middle, with the anterior margin strongly elevated and 

 acutely rounded in the middle; black, with the lateral margins broadly yellow; 

 disk slightly convex or cannate, with the lateral margins and posterior edge 

 raised ; hind angles prominent, acute; medial line faint : elytra black, with four 

 longitudinally raised lines, interstices reticulate ; sutural and lateral edges 

 raised ; anterior lateral fourth yellow ; sides much inflexed anteriorly under the 

 exterior line : beneath and feet black; pleura yellow. Sometimes the medial 

 line is broad and distinct, particularly in small specimens. 



Dicttopterus, Latr. 



D. sculptilis. Piceous; thorax with elevated lines, yellowish each side. Say, 

 Boston Journ. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1, p. 158. 



Var. Shoulders yellow, Lycus axillaris, Melsh. M.S. 



D. canaliculatus. Black ; thorax with a yellowish margin and an impressed 

 line on the basal margin. Say, Boston Journ. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1, 154. 



Var. Shoulders obsoletely rufous, Lycus graculus, M. S. 



1. D. flora lis. Black; lateral margins of the thorax broadly yellow. 2| 1. 

 long ; 1 1. wide. Pennsylvania. 



Black; head small ; antennae compressed, second joint small, third less than 

 the fourth, which is slightly longer than the fifth : thorax subquadrate, as wide 

 as the base of the elytra, wider behind than before, black, with the lateral mar- 

 gins broadly yellow and ordinarily elevated ; anterior edge obtusely rounded, 

 and fringed with short black hairs; posterior edge elevated ; disk slightly in- 

 equal ; a roundish impression in front of the scutel ; posterior angles excurved, 

 deflexed, rather acute : elytra black, with longitudinal, slightly raised lines, and 

 alternate obsolete ones; interstices with numerous transverse lines: beneath and 

 feet black ; pleura yellow. This may prove to be the marginellus of Fabricius, 

 but the elytra are not sulcated, as is stated to be the case in that species. 



2. D. nanus. Blackish; lateral margins of the thorax yellowish; elytra 

 punctate-striatc. 2 1. long; less than 1 1. wide. Pennsylvania. 



Blackish, with a reddish-brown tinge: head piceous ; antenna; — , thorax sub- 

 quadrate, as wide as the base of the elytra, narrow before ; black, with the late- 

 ral margins yellowish and ordinarily elevated; anterior margin raised and acutely 

 rounded ; disk slightly convex and inequal, with a short medial groove before 



