NORTH AMERICAN COLKOPTERA. 



223 



9. L.. praeteriiiissa n. sp.-Oblong, slightly broader behind dark rufotes- 

 taceous* to piceous brown, usually paler beneath, moderately shining. Clypeus 

 feebly emarginatc, the border narrowly reflexed ; surface moderately, coarsely, 

 sparsely punctate, front similar. Thorax obliquely narrowed in front, the sides 

 posteriorly either parallel or slightly sinuate, the margin sparsely ciliate, not 

 crenate, punctures moderately coarse, irregularly placed, with a tendency to form 

 groups, median region somewhat smoother. Elytral punctures larger and closer 

 than those of the thorax, somewhat stellate, the surface slightly wrinkled, the 

 discal costffi very indistinct, the subniargiual feeble posteriorly. Pygidium con- 

 vex, the punctures finer and sparser than on the thorax. Metasternum densely 

 punctulate, the hair rather long and dense. Abdomen at sides finely sparsely 

 puuctate, the last two segments more coar.sely punctate. Last joint of maxillary 

 palpi shortly fusiform, not impressed. Claws arcuate, a strong acute tooth at 

 middle. Length .58 —.64 inch ; 15—16 mm. 



Male.— Antennal club as long as the stem. Abdomen slightly 

 flattened at middle, the penultimate segment with a slight roughened 

 ridge close to the posterior border ; last ventral concave, broadly 

 emarginate at apex. Inner spur of hin'd tibiie very short, the outer 

 long and slender. 



Variations.— The specimens before me show no variation, except 



in size and color. 



By its slightly broader form this species resembles the congrua 

 group, but the very short fixed spur shows its relationship with the 



present group. 



Only males have been seen. Collected in Louisiana by INIorrison. 



' 10. L. pruiliiiioiiliiia Burm. -Eobust cylindrical, variable in color from 

 reddish-brown to black : surface sometimes shining, often slightly pruinose, 

 rarely with a dvill smoky surface. Clypeus feebly broadly emarginate, the mar- 

 .rin moderately reflexed, punctures moderate in size, close but not dense % , 

 sparser ? Thorax arcuatelv narrowed in front, nearly parallel behind, the 

 margin entire % . or very slightly irregular ? , punctures coarse, regularly dis- 

 posed closelv placed, but not dense, the basal margin slightly impressed each 

 side Elytra punctured similarly to the thorax, the costae very feeble. Pygid.um 

 more finelv and closely punctured than the thorax. Metasternum closely and 

 moderatelv coarselv punctate, the pubescence very sparse and short. Abdomen 

 more finelV and sparsely punctate. Claws with a moderate tooth near the base 

 in both sexes. Last joint of maxillary palpi fusiform and impressed. Length 

 _5g_.70inch; 14 — 18umi. 



T^Iaee.— Antenna? rufotestaceous, chib paler and a little longer 

 than the stem. Penultimate segment flattened at middle, an oblique 

 obtuse elevation each side, last ventral moderately deeply concave, 

 the border of the concavity limited posteriorly by a slight ridgc 

 which, near the apex, forms a slight cusp each side. ^ Inner spur of 

 hind tibia wanting, the outer long and slender (flg. 10). 



