312 STUDIES IN ALAUDES (COLEOPTERA; TENEBRIONIDAe) 



Elytra about three and a half times longer than the pronotum and about a 

 third of their length longer than wide; sides feebly arcuate and parallel in liasal 

 two-thirds, thence gradually arcuate to the less than broadly rounded apex; 

 disk moderately convex from side to side, arcuately declivous apically; punc- 

 tures large, round, quite strong, moderately deep and distinctly serial; marginal 

 scales short, broad and rounded at apex, quite suddenly narrowed toward base, 

 those on the central part of the disk more gradually clavate, the few flying 

 hairs about the scutellum rather coarse. Scutellum distinctly triangular. 



Body beneath clothed with scales. 



Measurements. — Length, 1.5-1.08 mm.; width, 0.6-0.8 mm. 



Habitat. — Alameda County, California. 



Type (cf ) in the author's collection. Collected by Dr. E. C. 

 Van Dyke, who possesses paratypes. 



The salient and differential characters are the shorter prono- 

 tum, shorter, stouter and more strongly capitate marginal scales 

 of the elytra, and, besides the punctures attaining the base later- 

 ally, becoming obsolete on the scutellar declivity, the sutural 

 striae are impressed toward base and extend on to the declivity 

 as well. The triangular scutellum is distinctive and unique. 

 In the female the sides of the scutellar depression is rather prom- 

 inent, and the sculpturing is coarser. The basal prominences are 

 noticeably tufted with horizontal elongate scales. 



The posterior margin of the floor of the basal pronotal depres- 

 sion is distinctly arcuate. 



The following table will aid in the separation of species : 



Elytral vestiture distinctly scale-like. Scutellum distinctly triangular ; marginal 



scales of elytra strongly capitate and rather short testacea 



Scutellum apparently transverse and more or less bisinuate at apex. 

 Marginal scales rather narrow, increasing gradually in width from the 



base singularis 



Marginal scales broad at apex, increasing rapidly in width from the l)a.se; 



rounded or subtruncate at apex squamosa 



Elytral vestiture distinctly hair-like. Scutellum apparently transverse and 

 more or less bisinuate at apex setigera 



It is extremely doubtful that the scutellum is transversely 

 oblong, tridentate and bisinuate at apex. The doubt arises from 

 a careful examination of the small series at hand. These insects 

 are delicate and troublesome to handle, there are so few in col- 

 lections that it is not desirable to dissect any. These remarks 

 apply only to singularis, squamosa and setigera. 



