NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 



41 



Synopsis or the APIONINAE of North America. 



BY JOHN B. SMITH. 



The subfainily Apioninae accordin,<i to the new classification forms a 

 part of the family CurcuUonidae, and is defined as follows :-" Mentum 

 narrow, linear, much longer than wide, inserted upon a short gular pe- 

 duncle of equal width ; slightly channelled at tip, reaching nearly to the 

 mandibles, and (luite concealing the ligula and palpi which are very 

 small. maxilUe entirely filling the buccal fissures with a large corneous 

 mass: there is but one broad lobe, densely fringed with hairs ; palpi not 

 visible ; on dissection they appear very short, with not more than three 

 joints. Mandibles three toothed, the middle tooth curved, acute, forming 

 the apex ; near the tip on the anterior edge is a small tooth ; the third 

 tooth is on the inner side and very large. Antennae inserted in fove«, 

 at the sides of the beak, eleven jointed, straight, first joint longer tlian 

 the succeeding ones; 9-11 broader and longer, forn.ing an oval pubes- 

 cent club which is pointed at the end. 



Head prominent, not deflexed, not narrowed behind the eyes, which 

 are rounded, convex and not granulate; beak long and slender, some- 

 times stoutCT- toward the base ; with antennal grooves. 



Prothorax truncate in front, without postocular lobes, subsinuate be- 

 hind, uradually narrowed iVoni base to tip ; prosternum very short, coxal 

 cavitiel rounded, confluent, closed behind ; prosternal sutures distinct. 



:^Iesosternum small narrow between the coxae ; side pieces diagonally 

 divided ; epimera triangular pointed at the inner side, and not attaining 

 the coxal cavities. Metasternum a little longer than the first ventral 

 segment, side pieces narrower. 



Elytra ample sometimes almost ventricose, deeply striate, entirely 

 coverinii- the pyoidium ; without epipleura ; fold ..n the inner surface 

 pavalled with the side margin, diverging gradually from it toward the 

 tip. Wings large. 



Abdomen with the first and second ventral segments large, closely 

 connate, with a fine straight suture; third and f.urth segments very 

 short, sutures straight, fifth hmger, flat, rounded at the tip; dorsal seg- 

 ments membranous, pygidium small; anterior coxa^ conical, prominent, 

 contiguous; middle coxse round, slightly separated. 



„ „, tlW .lAM'ARV. 1SS4. 



TRANS. AMEIt. KNT. SOC. XI. (I I ) 



