214 GEO. H. HORN, M. D. 



The genera of this group are not numei'ous, and two only have 

 representation in our fauna, separated as follows : 



Autennte gradually clavate ; epipleural fold of elytra vertical. ...Argopistes. 

 AntennfB slender, but slightly thickened externally; epipleural fold horizontal. 



Sphteroderma. 

 ARGOPISTES Motsch. 



Head rather deeply inserted, the front oblique, inflexed, distinctly 

 carinate, the callosities distinct, but oblique. Clypeus truncate, lab- 

 rum moderately prominent, truncate. Maxillary palpi moderate in 

 length, the second joint elongate, clavate, third half as long, ob- 

 conical, fourth slender and longer, acuminate. Antennae but little 

 longer than half the body, first joint moderately long, 2-3-4 more 

 slender, together as long as the first, the following joints forming a 

 club with the joints broader than the preceding, and of nearly equal 

 length among themselves. Eyes large, slightly reniform, rather 

 narrowly separated on the vertex. Thorax transverse, deeply emar- 

 ginate in front, anterior angles obtuse, the posterior well defined. 

 Scutellura small, narrowly triangular. Elytra slightly wider at base 

 than the thorax, humeri obtusely rounded, no distinct umbone, punc- 

 tuation confused, epipleural border vertical. Legs rather short, pos- 

 terior femora rather widely dilated ; the tibise broader toward apex, 

 the posterior tibiae grooved on the outer edge, the borders of the 

 groove finely spinulose, the apex with a small spur. Tarsi moderate, 

 the first joint of posterior pair rather longer than the others com- 

 bined. Claws I'ather broadly appendiculate. PL VII, fig. 15. 



In this genus the eyes occupy a large part of the head and so 

 closely placed that the antennae are inserted close to their border in 

 a slight emargination, the granulation is rather fine and the surface 

 smooth. 



But one species is known in our fiiuna. 



A. scyrtoidies Lee. — Orbicular, convex, piceous, black, shining, a broad, 

 arcuate, transverse band on the thorax, a large triangular spot on each elytron, 

 also the apex, red. Head reddish, obsoletely punctate. Antennae pale rufotesta- 

 ••eous. Thorax more than twice as wide as long, very much narrowed to the 

 front, sides feebly, base very broadly arcuate, surface distinctly alutaceous, finely 

 and rather closely punctate. Elytra rather more finely punctate than the thorax. 

 Body beneath and legs pale rufotestaceous. Length .12 — .14 inch.: 3 — 3.5 mm. 

 PI. VII, fig. 4. 



The male has the last ventral sinuate each side, the median lobe 

 moderately prominent and with a small, moderately deep fovea near 

 the margin. 



