AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 1G3 



Short Studies of North American COLEOPTERA. 



BY JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D. 



Under this title I have brought together some tables of genera 

 containing easily recognized but neglected species, which have so 

 accumulated in local collections as to be inconvenient from their 

 number. Several of the tables were prepared two or three years ago 

 and were intended as the bases of more or less extensive monographs, 

 which want of time has prevented me from elaborating. Though the 

 descriptions are apparently expressed in but few words, it will be found 

 that the subordination of characters used, in reality, indicates all the 

 most important specific differences, and I hope, therefore, that the 

 student will find no difficulty in identifying the species found in his 

 neighborhood. I have also availed myself of the opportunity to 

 describe a few remarkable species, which represent, sometimes new 

 genera, sometimes those not before recognized in our fauna. 



I must express my special thanks to Mr. G. W. Belfrage for a 

 complete set of the species collected by him in Texas, and to Mr. 

 E. A. Sehwarz for a large series from the same State, and kindly 

 submitted to me by permission of Mr. C. V. Ptiley, U. S. Entom. 

 Commission ; also to Mr. A. Bolter for many species from California 

 and P'lorida. 



Full lists of the Texas species, will I hope soon be ready for 

 publication, like those of Michigan and Florida species prepared by 

 Messrs. Hubbard and Sehwarz,* which have added so greatly to the 

 knowledge of geographical distribution of Coleoptera in this country. 



OROMIVS Bon. 

 D. atriceps. — Very elongate, shining pale yellow. Head large rhom- 

 boidal, black J antennae not longer than the head and prothorax, yellow, rather 

 stout; palpi yellow, last joint elongated, compressed at the tip, so as to appear 

 pointed when viewed edge-wise; anterior outline of nientum indistinct. Pro- 

 thorax narrower and shorter than the head, longer than wide, narrowed behind, 

 hind margin rounded, basal angles obtuse not prominent, dorsal line deep, 

 basal impressions distinct. Elytra nearly twice as long as the head and pro- 

 thorax, very broadly truncate behind and shorter than the abdomen; humeri 

 rounded, not at all prominent; striae obliterated, scutellar puncture large; 



* Proc. Ara. Philosophical Society, 1878. 



