lit) WILLIAM G. DIETZ, M.D. 



I have separated the species into two groups, differing considerably 

 in their general habitus as foHows : 



Foiiith tarsal joint of anterior tarsi much longer tban the third. Very densely 

 scaly discoideus Group. 



Fourth tarsal joint of anterior tarsi not, or very little longer than the third. 

 Scaly vestiture not dense (except amcemis), condensed, forming lines or 

 transverse fascise amcenus Group. 



discoideus Group. 



The species comprising tliis group are very robust and densely 

 scaly, the scales forn] either distinct patterns, or more rarely are 

 nearly unicolorous, the fourth tarsal joint is long and slender, except 

 in the first two species; the claws are connate for scarcely one-half 

 their length except centralis, where they are connate almost to the 

 tip. 



The species may be readily distinguished as follows: 



Third tarsal joint broadly bilobed, tarsi less slender. 



Scutelluni not visible; scales forming pattern on the upper surface. Plate vii, 



fig. I discoideus. 



Scutellum distinct, triangular, scaly; scales forming patterns on the upper 



surface. Plate vii, fig. 2 cams. 



Scutellum distinct, small, glabrous. 



Prothorax much wider than long, claws not connate beyond the middle. 



corpuleiitiis. 

 Prothorax not much wider than long, claws connate nearly to the apes. 



centralis. 



Tarsi narrow, long and slender, third joint not broadly bilobed, prothorax 



scarcely wider than long lateralis. 



P. discoideus Lee— Oval, robust, pitchy black, densely clothed with 

 broadly oval, pale yellowish scales marmorate on the upper surface with pat- 

 terns of pitchy black. Beak rather robust, regularly curved, as long as ( 'Jj ), or 

 a little longer ( 9 ) than head and prothorax: densely punctured with an indis- 

 tinct, median elevated line, extending from base to the insertion of the antennse, 

 sparsely clothed with short squaniiform pubescence; basal tufts obsolete, con- 

 strictions distinct, but not deep; scrobes strongly oblique. Antenuse slender, 

 inserted two-fifths from the apex { *£) ) or slightly before the middle { 9 ), second 

 joint of funicle a little more than one-half as long as the first joint and less 

 than one-half longer than the third; club strongly elongate, densely pubescent. 

 Head finely punctured and pubescent. Prothorax one-half wider than long, 

 strongly and rather suddenly narrowed anteriorly, feebly constricted at the apex, 

 sides regularly rounded, surface densely and rather coarsely punctured, punc- 

 tures concealed by the scales which are larger than elsewhere; a broad, irregular 

 median vitta and a narrow, irregular and less distinct lateral line, connected by 

 auolher transverse band before the middle, pitchy black ; scutel not visible. 

 Elytra one-third wider at base than the prothorax, and about one-half longer 

 than wide; sides broadly rounded for two-thirds their length, thence more rap- 



