168 WILLIAM G. DIETZ, M.D. 



Tarsi narrow, third joint not or very little wider than the second joint. Plate 

 vii, fig. 4a. 

 Elytra very little wider at the base than the prothorax, scales mottled. 



obtectiis. 

 Elytra distinctly wider at the base than the prothorax; scales unicolorous, or 

 nearly so. 



More robust, scales ochreous, indistinctly mottled with paler parcus. 



Less robust, scales uniformly grayish white albosquainOi^US. 



Tarsi stouter, third joint distinctly, though not broadly bilobed ; scales dirty, 

 grayish brown, somewhat matted lutuleiitiis. 



S. obtectus^ Lee. — Elongate-oblong, entirely pitchy black, shining when 

 denuded of its scaly vestituve, the latter dense, consisting of large, oval, brown 

 and whitish scales in varying proportion, giving to the insect an undefined, va- 

 riegated appearance, underside grayish white. Beak in the male shorter than 

 the prothorax, robust, tapering from base to apex, punctured and densely 

 squamose fiom base to the insertion of the antennse, remotely punctate and 

 shining beyond ; in the female nearly as long as the prothorax and almost 

 straight, very feebly tapering, less densely punctured and more shining; basal 

 tufts quite distinct. Antennce stout, inserted a trifle before ( 'J, ), or about the 

 middle ( 9). second joint of funicle as long as the third in the male, a trifle 

 longer in the female, outer joints of funicle wider, front remotely punctate, 

 densely scaly. Prothorax not wider than long, narrowed in front, about three- 

 fourths as wide at the apex than at base, distinctly constricted at the apex, 

 rounded on the sides before the middle, feebly rounded and slightly converging 

 toward the base, surface densely and rather coarsely punctured, a distinct, 

 smooth median line, abbreviated before and behind, lateral margin, a median 

 Hue and another interrupted vitta each side of disc consisting of pale scales, 

 erect setse not obvious. Scutel small, rounded. Elytra a little wider at the 

 base than the prothorax and less than one-half longer than wide, oblong, humeri 

 rounded, feebly rounded on the sides, striae very fine, nearly obliterated with the 

 scales intact, when denuded fine, superficial with remote, elongate punctures, 

 interstitial setse rather stout, nearly prostrate and scarcely discernible, pale 

 scales prominent on the sides and form a basal line on the third interspace. 

 Prosternura ratiier long in front of the coxse, not deeply emarginate, postocular 

 lobes prominent. Legs rather stout, femora distinctly clavate, tibise widened 

 from base to apex, anterior subparallel, and obliquely truncate at tip, tarsi nar- 

 row, third joint scarcely wider than the second, fourth long and slender; claws 

 connate for about one-third their length. Length 2.25—3.0 mm.; 0.09—0 12 

 inch. Plate vii, fig. 4a. 



Hah. — California. 



Ea.sily recognized by the large prothorax, the elytra very little 

 wider at base than the prothorax and the narrow third tarsal joint. 

 It appears to be common. 



Some specimens have the humeral angle a little more prominent 

 with the sides of the elytra nearly straight ; they do not, however, 

 differ otherwise. Varies considerable in the general color of its 

 scaly vestiture ; some specimens present an almost unicolorous, pale 

 brown appearance. 



