NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTKRA. 273 



S. tiViiisita Say. — Form of elongatn, hut narrower, surface shinino;. Color 

 very variable, but eveu when entirely pale, the elytra sliow traces of the vitta; 

 by the paler color of the yellowish white. PI. VII, fi^s. 5 — 8, varieties. 



Thi.s species is best described by y:iving a brief description of tlie 



varieties, or at least of certain forms which have been indicated as 



distinct, while it nuist be remembered that these intergrade so grad- 



nally as to be inseparable. 



lig-ata Lee. — Head moderately, coarsely, sparsely punctured. Thorax more 

 coarsely deeply and closely punctate. Elytra moderately closely and deeply 

 punctate, the punctures finer than those of the thorax. Color piceous, anteiinse 

 and legs brown, elytra with a median yellow vitta reaching nearly to the apex. 

 Length .12 — .15 inch. ; 3—4 mm. 



Under this style of punctuation the color varies. The head and 

 thorax become reddish brown, others have pale epipleurte, the side 

 margin becomes pale and finally the whole surface is pale yellowish 

 white and form the variety ochracea Lee. 



This variety occurs in California and Nevada, going as far south 

 as San Bernardino. 



Variety •■■ •■■ * Eather more elongate than the preceding form and 



with the punctuation as abundant, but less deep. Length .12 — .16 inch. : 3—4 mm. 



The feebly colored forms of this type resemble elongata, and from 

 this it varies in the manner indicated for Ugata until the specimens 

 are entirely yellowish white above and beneath. 



This form occurs in Dakota, Colorado and northern Arizona. 



blanda Mels. -Punctuation of thorax fine and sparse, that of the elytra fine 

 and moderately close, but not deep. Length .12 — .18 inch. ; 3 — 4.5 mm. 



This variety is not often so dark as the preceding. It varies in 

 color to entirely pale. Forms with the underside of body and sides 

 of thorax narrowly piceous constitute the true blanda ^^els. 



This variation is connnon in Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and New 

 Mexico, extending to Pennsylvania and New England States. 



mitis Lee— Of the same form as the preceding. Thorax almost absolutely 

 smooth, elytral punctuation fine and feeble, sometimes the elytra are quite 

 smooth. Length .12 — .16 inch. ; 3 — 4 mm. 



This variety goes through all the forms from those colored like 

 elongata to others entirely ])ale. 



Occurs abundantly in Nevada, California and southern Arizona. 



In the vast majority of the darker specimens the thorax has at 

 base a broad paler band. The male has the last ventral of the 

 usual trilobed form, the middle lobe flat or slightly concave, with a 

 finely impressed median line. 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC. XVI (35) JULY, 1889. 



