NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTKRA. IS 



with coarser and finer punctures intermixed, slightly denser at the sidi-M, anu-- 

 rior angles of thorax usually with a large pale space, rarely the spot is obsolete, 

 Elytra moderately deeply striate, the striae closely, but not deeply punctured, 

 intervals convex, but to a variable degree, the finer punctures scarcely percep- 

 tible. Body beneath very sparsely punctate, the mcsosternuni almost absolutely 

 smooth. Posterior femora almost smooth, first joint of hind tarsus nearly as long 

 as the next three. Length .20-.26 inch ; 5-6.5 mm. 



The sexual differences are scarcely evident beyond the .'^lightlv 

 deeper clypeal emargination of the female and the more robust an- 

 terior tibial spur of the male. 



This species and congreyatm are closely related and difficult to dis- 

 tinguish by the table or description, but in the present species the 

 striiiB of the elytra are always deeper and more distinctly punctured, 

 and the intervals convex, while in congregatus they are absolutely flat. 



The variation in color is well mai'ked. In the typical f(U"m the 

 elytra are dark red and the anterior angles of the thorax with a well 

 marked pale spot. I have specimens in Avhich the elytra are some- 

 what maculate, and the design, carefully studied, is of the same type 

 as in pardalis. Specimens are, however, abundant (three from Col- 

 orado) in which the entire sui-face is quite black, and even the pale 

 spot at the anterior angles of the thorax almost or even entirely dis- 

 ap]ieared. These latter are ursums Motsch. These I'esemble pecto- 

 rali'i, which has the elytra, however, distinctly alutaceous, and the 

 cly])eus with a distinct transverse carina. 



Occurs from the liigh regions of Colorado westward to California, 

 Oregon, Washington Territory, and northward to Alaska. The 

 variety iirsinm occurs also in Kamtschatka. 



A. foeticlu!^ Fab. — ^Oblong oval, slightly broader behind, black, shining, 

 elytra and legs brownish red. Antennae reddish brown with darker club. Head 

 distinctly alutaceous, sparsely punctate, the frontal tubercles feeble. Clypeus 

 liemihexagonal, feebly emarginate at middle, the angles rounded, the genje feebly 

 prominent. Thorax narrower in front, the sides feebly arcuate, base regularly 

 arcuate, hind angles distinct, but obtuse, disc convex, black, the anterior angles 

 always paler, sui-face moderately coarsely, but very evenly punctate, more densely 

 in the female. Elytra not as wide as the thorax % or equal 9) the di.sc striate, 

 striie crenately punctured, intervals slightly convex, distinctly alutaceous and 

 with fine irregularly placed punctures. Body beneath sparsely punctate, the sur- 

 face distinctly alutaceous. Posterior femora sparsely punctate, the first joint of 

 the hind tarsi as long as the next three. Length .16-.20 inch ; 4-5 mm. 



The sexual diflerences are very feeble. As a rule the male is 

 smaller and less broadened behijid, the clypeus and thorax less closely 

 punctured. The thorax is also distinctly broader in the male, so that 

 tlie base of the elvtra seems narrowei- tlian it. 



