NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 81 



STIDIEK IX COCCINEL,L,IDJE. 



BY OEORGE H. HORN, M.D. 



The Coccinellidse of Boreal America have been nearly completely 

 monograj^hed by Crotch (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1873), who omitted 

 Scynmus and the genera with small species. In 1880 (Trans. Am. 

 Ent. 8oc.) LeOjnte reviewed Hyperaspis. The Scymnides have 

 never been studied since the earliest work by LeConte (Proc. Acad. 

 1852). The present paper was begim with the idea of supplementing 

 the works abov^e cited, having Scynuim, especially, in view. 



In no family of the entire order have genera been so unnecessarily 

 multiplied and founded on characters impossible of accurate defini- 

 tion, the work of Mulsant being an instance of minute subdivision 

 in every respect. Tlie later work of Crotch, while partly correcting 

 this unnecessary subdivision, has in many places fallen into the same 

 error. Chapuis (Genera Col. xii) has greatly simplified the classifi- 

 cation in the number of the larger subdivisions of the family and of 

 the genera. 



As an instance of the difficulties met in the arrangement of the 

 genera Coccidu/a may be taken as a beginning. This genus is se])a- 

 rated from the other pul)escent Coccinellidse by the existence of some 

 larger elytral punctures substriately arranged. While this will an- 

 swer fairly for the European species and our lepida, it fails for occi- 

 dentalis. LeConte has, however, suggested a more imjiortant char- 

 acter (Classif. 1883, p. 114) in the fact that the anterior coxal cavi- 

 ties are open behind. 



In describing Cephaloscymnua (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1873, p. 382) 

 Crotch observes the same character. From this it is evident that the 

 taxonomic value given it by LeConte cannot be accepted without 

 unnaturally associating the two genera. From the characters pro- 

 })osed by Cliapuis Cephalo-icymnm should be placed in the Ortaliites, 

 and I would remove Xovius from the Scymnites to the same group. 



Another difficulty arises in the species at present called Pentilia 

 in our lists. By the arrangement suggested in the Classification 

 these species fall in the Hyperaspites, but the table does not seem 

 applicable outside of our fauna. 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC. XXII. (11) APSIL, 1895. 



