112 GEO. H. HORN. M. D. 



sparsely punctate. Inner spur of posterior tibise slender acute, outer stout, ob- 

 liquely truncate and concave at tip. Length .44-.76 inch; 11-16 mm. 



Male. — Antennfe gradually stouter from base to tip. Anterior tibiae with two 

 spurs, middle tibise slightly arcuate. Hind trochanter truncate at tip and with 

 an acute spine on the lower edge. Fifth ventral deeply triangularly emarginate, 

 sixth deeply incised, almost divided. 



Female. — Antennae shorter and a little more moniliform than the male. Poste- 

 rior trochanters oval at tip, without spine. Fifth ventral entire, sixth slightly 

 emarginate at tip. 



This species should be placed near insperata from the structure of the 

 posterior tibial spurs. The sexual characters are similar. From that 

 species it differs in its more robust form ; broader and more pentagonal 

 thorax which is differently colored. 



Four specimens, California, probably from near Visalia, 3Iorrison. 



PYROTA Lee. 



The species of this genus are by no means easy to separate satisfac- 

 torily. The sexual and other structural character.s so well marked in 

 nearly all the other genera of Meloidse are here reduced almost to tlie 

 niiniiiuim and reliance must be placed on the superficial characters of 

 color and sculpture. 



Having had, for some time, several species which differ very obviously 

 from any already described the present opportunity is made use of to 

 make them known and at the same time present some remarks on the 

 other species which may seem useful in assisting in their determination. 



The sexual characters are as nearly as possible the same in all the 

 species. The last joint of the maxillary palpi in the male is transversely 

 oval more acute internally, the underside being excavated and with a 

 membranous reticulated surface, the same joint in the female is of the 

 usual elongate form, truncate at tip. The last ventral segment of the 

 male is incised and entire in the female. The palpi of the two sexes of 

 P. iasulata are shown on PI. 5, fig. 24. 



In order to avoid any detailed description of the markings I have 

 prepared sketches of the elytra of the species, drawn as if perfectly flat, 

 and will refer to them. 



P. mylabrina Chev. — Head yellow, often with a black spot each side of the 

 occiput and two on the front. Thorax always with two disoal black spots, usually 

 with another at the side, rarely with two or without any. Elytra yellow, marked 

 as in fig. 13. Body beneatli black, the middle of the metasternum, a space at its 

 lateral suture and the mesosternal epimeron yellow. Abdomen black, the apical 

 third of each segment yellow. Legs yellow, knees, tips of tibise and tarsi black, 

 spurs of hind tibise dissimilar, the inner slender and acute, the outer stout, and 

 obliquely truncate. Length ..36-.68 inch ; 9-17 mm. 



