128 AMERICAN coleoptp:ra. 



last tarsal joint lonor, projectiiio; beyond the lobes of the third joint for a greater 

 distance than their length. Length 1.6-2.2 mm.; .06- .09 inch. (PI. Ill, figs. 

 6, 6rt and 7). 



■J, . Sutural angles of elyti'a broadly rounded. 



9. Sutural angles scarcely rounded. 



Hab. — Utah, Arizotia, California (San Francisco to San Die£:o\ 

 An exceedingly variable insect, unless, perchance, I have confused 

 two or more species in the aggregate above described. In tlie series 

 of nearly one hundred examples before me I am, however, quite 

 unable to find any group of characters of sufficient constancy to 

 warrant a subdivision. As the variations are, to a considerable extent, 

 geographical, it would be well to indicate the prevailing form in the 

 regions above named ; but it is to be remembered that from one 

 localitv or another intermediates are present, which more or less 

 perfectly connect the extremes along any line of variation. In 

 general, specimens from the more northern regions have the humeri 

 small or entirely wanting. In these the metasternum is obviously 

 shorter than the first ventral, and the wings are extremely rudimen- 

 tary. In the prevailing form from Southern California and Arizona 

 the humeri are quite well developed ; the metasternum is nearly as 

 long as the first ventral, and the wings are correspondingly more 

 ample. In the Utah and Arizona examples the vestiture is more 

 squamiform, the size smaller, the eyes less prominent than in those 

 from California. The sides of the thorax are generally nearly 

 parallel, but in a series from Phoenix, Arizona, the apical and basal 

 constrictions are well marked. The elytra are generally widest 

 behind the middle, but may be widest at the middle, with the sides 

 regularly arcuate (Utah). In one example from California the legs 

 and antennae are rufous. 



Var. calif orni cum Smith. — I have retained this name for a somewhat strongly 

 marked form from the region about San Franci.sco. It agrees with the Utah ex- 

 amples in the lack of humeri, but is considerably larger and more elongate, with 

 less deeply impressed striae and flatter intervals. The last tarsal joint is less 

 elongate, projecting beyond the lobes of the third for a distance which is scarcely 

 equal to their length. 'PI. Ill, figs. 8 and 8(t). 



Specimens in Dr. Horn's collection, bearing Smith's label, are 

 before me and are identical with typical examples of vespertitium 

 kindly sent me by Captain Casey. In case of subsequent division 

 the form from Utah, described by Prof. Smith, will, of course, 

 remain the type of the species. The original specimens were bred 

 "from galls on Artemisia,'" and it should be said that the color, and 



