NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 135 



to find the tibise, especially the posterior pair, without terminal spurs, 

 the mechanical reasons for which in saltatory insects being very 

 evident. One group admitted by Chapuis, the Elithiites, has no 

 spurs, and from the tenor of his remarks it is evident that he has 

 had considerable difficulty in becoming satisfied as to the systematic 

 position the genera of that group should occupy. 



The genus Luperaltica is equally perplexing. It is composed of 

 two species, in one of which there can hardly be any doubt as to its 

 position, the posterior thighs being well thickened and much stouter 

 than the two anterior pairs, and the anterior coxae are distinctly 

 se{)arated by the prosternum as required by the normal condition of 

 the Halticini. On the other hand the second species has all the 

 femora slightly thickened, the posterior pair not much more so than 

 the others, but the anterior coxae are absolutely in contact, the pro- 

 sternum not prolonged between them. The thickening of the femora 

 in this species {fuscula) is scarcely greater than has been observed 

 in many genuine Galerucini. 



Both species are deprived of a terminal spur to the posterior tibiae, 

 a character of rare occurrence in the Halticini, but quite common 

 in the Galerucini. 



In further evidence of the difficulty of placing the genus it will 

 be remembered that Dr. LeConte placed the species in Malacosoma. 

 At the time of my study of the Halticini (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc 

 xvi, p. 271) it was suggested that Luperaltica should be dropped 

 from our literature from the very faulty nature of the description, 

 but to avoid confusion the name has been retained and the descrip- 

 tion amended. L. senilis was erroneously referred by me to Systena, 

 which it greatly resembles, but the front coxal cavities are open. 



Two species are known. 

 Anterior coxie coutiguous; elytra very indistinctly punctate, color above vary- 

 ing from yellovF testaceous to dull blue I'uscula. 



Anterior coxje separated ; elytra very evidently punctate, elytra bright metallic- 

 blue senilis. 



Luperaltica cannot well be placed in any of the groups suggested 

 by Chapuis. It will take a place in his table near the Elithiites by 

 the absence of posterior tibiae spurs, differing from that in the form 

 of the claws. In a natural arrangement the group might be well 

 placed after the Crepidoderites. 



L,. fuscula Lee, Proc. Acad. 1865, p. 206 ; Crotch, ibid. 1873, p. 70.— Form 

 oblong, resembling Systena, moderately convex, surface rather dull, color yellow- 



TRAN8. AM. ENT. SOC. XX. JUNE, 1893. 



