NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 39 



HYPUL,US Payk. 



This name is here adoi)ted as the correct name of the genns, Diretea 

 often used, having for its undoubted type barbatiut, which is in turn 

 the type of the older genus Serropalpus. 



In examining the characters used by authors in separating Dirciiea 

 and Phlceotrya tliere does not seem to be any difterence. Lacordaire 

 uses the insertion of the antennte which is entirely illusory. Duval 

 finds the maxillary palpi distinctly dentate in Phloeotrya and the 

 anterior tarsi not dilated, while in Dircti^a the palpi are distinctly 

 dentate and the tarsi dilated. These are purely sexual characters. 

 The males of all the species studied in our fauna have the palpi more 

 serrate, the hist joint longer, the anterior tarsi dilated. Thomson 

 (Skand. Col. vi) adopts Mulsant's determination of the genera and 

 his Hypulus does not contain the Paykull type. 



In our books the name Hypulus should replace Dircnea, and ^lys- 

 taxus replace Hypulus. Mystaxus Kitr/. has never been character- 

 ized by that autlior, but has been sufficiently described since, and the 

 name is certainly as well worthy of adoption as many of the Erich- 

 son genera, which pass without question. 



In all the species before me the males have the anterior tarsi rather 

 widely dilated and the last ventral segment truncate or emarginate. 

 In the males oi' fw^ca the ventral segments 2-8-4 have a transverse 

 space at middle more densely and finely punctui-ed and with the 

 pubescence denser. Unfortunately, the male of Vaudoueri sent me 

 by Fauvel has no abdomen, although it is quite certain that this and 

 fusca are identical. 



The species known to me are as follows : 



Marginal line of thorax not visible in front of the middle of the sides 2. 



Marginal line entire, reaching the apex 3. 



2. — Thorax rather roughly granulate, elytra densely and finely ininctured. 



prunus. 

 Thorax simply punctured. 



Elytra entirely piceous Riversii. 



Elytra with two yellow bands biciiictiis. 



3. — Antennfe slender, joints longer than wide. 



Thorax shining, simply punctate; elytra ornate with yellow spots of irreg- 

 ular shape ..liliiratus. 



Thorax opaque rugulose, elytra brown Vaudoueri. 



Antennfe with joints somewhat triangular, nearly as wide as long. 



concolor. 

 H. pronus^ Lee. (Dircsea), Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 1878, p. 426. 

 Our largest species ; of uniform ferruginotis brown color and fine 



