AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. Ill 



Pl,ACO]VYCHA n. g. 



Head as in Ectopria, Eyes equal in the two sexes. Antennae 

 pectinate % , serrate 9 , very like Ectopria. Ligula with four pro- 

 cesses, shorter and less slender than in that genus. Palpi similar to 

 Ectopria. Prosternum short in front of the coxae, prolonged nar- 

 rowly between them and not elevated. Anterior coxae moderately 

 prominent, higher than the prosternum and without trochantin. 

 Mesosternum of moderate width, depressed and oblique. Posterior 

 coxae suddenly but moderately dilated internally and contiguous, very 

 narrow externally. Legs as in Ectopria. Tarsi slender, not lobed nor 

 dilated, joints 1 — 4 gradually decreasing in length, fifth a little longer 

 than the first and with a distinct bisetose onychium. Claws slender and 

 simple at tip. moderately dilated at base, and with a slender membranous 

 appendage arising from the base nearly as long as the claw. 



This genus has the narrow front of the Eubriini and a general 

 similarity of structure otherwise, but the form of prosternum ap- 

 proaches the Helodini. The claws are however entirely anomalous 

 in the family, the presence of the membranous lobes being a very 

 disturbing element. The thorax by its explanate and rather widely 

 reflexed border recalls the form seen in certain Telepliori, with which 

 the genus has no afiinity. 



P. £(lwar<!sii Lee. — Broadly oval, feebly convex, piceous, elytra luteous 

 %, piceous 9 J sparsely finely pubescent. Thorax twice as wide as long, nar- 

 rower in front, apex arcuate, slightl}' prolonged over the head and with slightly 

 reflexed edge, base bisinuate, sides moderately arcuate, margin explanate and 

 rather broadly reflexed, color piceous, anterior angles pale, translucent, hind 

 angles broadly rounded, disc moderately convex at middle, shining, very 

 sparsely punctulate. Scutellum moderate in size, obtuse at tip. Elytra broadly 

 oval, with vague grooves irregularly punctured, the intervals narrower than 

 the grooves and very sparsely punctate. Body beneath piceous, opaque, sparsely 

 pubescent. Legs testaceous, femora darker. Length .14 'J, — .20 9; 3.5 — 5 mm. 

 (PI. I, fig. 16). 



Male. — Elytra luteous. Antennse pectinate, a little longer than half the 

 body, first joint short, oval, second very short, transverse, joints 3 — 10 gradually 

 longer, each bearing a process anteriorly which arises from the base of the 

 third, the middle of the fourth, subapical in the fifth and apical in the others, 

 eleventh joint twice as long as the tenth and slightly curved. (PI. I, fig. IfiJ. 



Female. — Elytra piceous. Antennse not as long as half the body. Joints 

 1 — 2 as in the male, third' elongate triangular, nearly as long as the next two 

 together, 4 — 10 triangular, broader than long, eleventh oval, obliquely emar- 

 giuate and with the tip acute. (PI. I, fig. 16 a). 



The females are rare and occur in the proportion of one to ten of 

 the males. 



Occurs in California, at and north of Santa Barbara, (H. Edwards). 



