•AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 459 



clavate, tibire very slender, not armed at the apex, tarsi with the 

 third joint broadly bilobed, claws simple, divaricate. 



Thus defined this genus is readily distingujshed from Cidogaster 

 by the stout and shorter beak, the oblique scrobes, obsolete post- 

 ocular lobes and simple claws. From the following genus it is dis- 

 tinguished by its short, robust form, the distinct prothoracic tuber- 

 cles and the broadly bilobed third tarsal joint. From the rest of 

 the genera of this subtribe, the present genus is separated by the 

 shorter second abdominal segment and the third segment narrowed 

 on tiie sides. 



The two species are distinguished thus : 



Larger, prothorax impressed at the base, elytra not conspicuously mottled. 



cretiira. 



Smaller, prothora.x channeled, carinate near the base, elytra tessclhite, a cou- 



si)icuous white spot on the third interspace obscurus. 



1*. erotiira ]Icrl)st. — Broadly oval, brownish black, antennte and legs red- 

 dish brown, thinly clothed above witii small, pale, or brownish scales, variable in 

 form, without mottling; beneath, pectus, tirst and -second ventral segments and 

 sides of prothora.x, densely clothed with pale brown or fulvous scales, last three 

 abdominal segments less densely scaly. Beak subcarinate, punctured, somewhat 

 shilling and like the head, thinly pubescent, the latter densely punctured, front 

 broadly inipres.sed ; i)i'othorax one-half wider than long, narrowed from the base, 

 rounded on the sides, narrowly and feebly constricted at the apex, dorsal channel 

 obsolete, a foveu-like impression in front of the scutel. lateral tubercles and apical 

 cusi)S distinct, acute, surface densely and rather finely punctured. Elytra about 

 one-fourth wider at the base than the prothorax, rounded on the sides, not ob- 

 viously narrowed behind, strife impressed, wide, punctured, punctures concealed 

 by fine, piliform scales, interspaces convex, equal, finely rugose ; pygidiura rather 

 coarsely punctured, underside denselj' punctured. Length 2.O-U.0 mm.; 0.10- 

 0.12 inch. 



% . Ventral segments not impressed. 



Hob. — Middle, Western and Southern States. 



The thighs and tibite are infuscate about the middle in some speci- 

 mens, entirely rufo-testaceous in others. 



P. ob^ciirus Lee. PI. xiv, fig. 3(i.— Broadly oval, dark piceoiis, antennai 

 and legs rufo-testaceous, above thinly squamous, scales on the underside larger, 

 more condensed, especially on the sternal side pieces. Beak very robust, finely 

 striolato-punctate, clothed with fine pubescence. Head rather strongly and 

 closely punctured, frontal fovea distinct, more densely scaly near the base of the 

 rosti'um and on the occiput, scales yellowish; jjrothorax one-half wider than 

 long and about one-third wider at the base than at the apex, feebly rounded on 

 the sides, basal nuirgin straight each side, lateral tubercles acute, apical cusps 

 acute, rather remote, flanks separated from the dorsum by an outwardly curved 

 line or margin, extending from the lateral tubercles to the apical cusps, dorsiil 

 channel entire, less distinct at the middle, carinate at the base, disc densely and 



TRANS. AM. KNT. SOC. XXIH. DECEMBER. 1896 



