AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 121 



unequal. The third joint of the maxillary palpi of one species is 

 much more dilated, in fact ovoid truncate at tip, even stouter than 

 in Tarlti/porns hnmnexis. Color is not to be depended upon in the 

 separation of species except in one instance, fiavi'collis, where the 

 style of coloration is so remarkably different, resembling a BoUtohius. 

 By an arrangement of the above characters the following table is 

 produced. 



Middle and posterior tibiae fimbriate at tip with coarse uuequal spinules. 

 Thorax without discal punctures. 



Third joint of maxillary palpi slender, similar to the second lopidiis. 



Third joint much stouter, ovoid, truncate. Species very slender. ..tenuis. 

 Thorax with two discal punctures slightly behind the middle. 



Elytra with one discal row of punctures liK'idiilus. 



Elytra with two rows of discal punctures c*oiiM<>rs. 



Middle and posterior tibiae fimbriate with equal spinules. 



Elytra uniform in color piceo- or rufo-testaceous; abdomen rufo-testaceous, 



each segment paler at tip anicricaiius. 



Elytra piceous black, apical third red; abdomen rufous, last two segments 



black fistvicollis. 



Elj'tra more narrowly rufous at tip and a humeral spot var. /ncilu.s, 



m. Icpiiliis, Er. — Color and size variable. Head black. Thorax smooth, 

 shining, without discal punctures but with the others as previously enumerated, 

 slightly broader than the base of the elytra. Elytra as long as wide, slightly 

 broader at apex than base, surface shining with the three series of punctures 

 feebly impressed. Abdomen very sparsely punctured and sparsely pubescent, 

 beneath more coarsely punctured. Length .12 — .18 inch; 3 — 4.5 mm. 



The color of this species varies so greatly that nothing can be said 

 in a general way. Several marked variations occur as follows : 



I. Color above castaneous, elytra darker at the sides and alono- 

 the suture, abdomen piceo-rufous, tips of segments paler. Lake 

 Superior. 



il. Color above rufo-testaceous, abdomen piceo-rufous. These forms 

 imitate Taclujporus jocosiis. Michigan, Schwarz. 



in. Elytra entirely piceous, a narrow pale stripe adjacent and ex- 

 ternal to the discal row of punctures. Florida, Schwarz. 



IV. I have also a specimen from California which for the present I 

 refer to this species. It appears to be of more slender form but this 

 results from the extension of the last two abdominal segments. Its 

 color is as in the Florida specimen. 



The color of the legs also varies with that of the upper surface 

 being either rufous or testaceous. 



Occurs from Michigan southward to Florida and westward to 

 California. 



TKASS. ASIEK. EST. SOC. VI. (17) JUNE, 1877. 



