M8S.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 481 



NOTES ON THE SPECIES OF LACHNOSTERNA OF TEMPERATE 

 NORTH AMERICA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. 



BY JOHN B. SMITH. 

 (With Plates xlviii— lx.) 



Few genera containing large species, or insects of even average size, 

 have been for so long a time in a chaotic state as the genus Laeh- 

 nosterna. Abundant everywhere in early summer, the insects were 

 largely looked upon as nuisances by collectors because, first, they 

 looked very much alike, and second, because no one seemed to know- 

 exactly what names to put on them. The collector who pinned up large 

 series, and obtained specimens from correspondents, soon came to the 

 conclusion that not only were there numerous species, but there were 

 numerous names for every species, and they gradually became re- 

 signed to a mass of material that might contain many or few species. 

 There is a distressing similarity of color, form, and size throughout the 

 genus, and yet quite sufficient individual variation in each of these 

 points to make specific recognition in some groups all but impossible. 

 Perhaps not more than two or three collections were correctly named 

 a few years ago, and one of these was the type collection of Dr. Le- 

 conte. 



In my early, enthusiastic days, when it seemed easy to straighten 

 out all that was crooked in entomology, Bembidium and Laehnosterna 

 among the Coleoptera attracted my especial attention, and I gathered 

 in material from all sources, until I thought I had enough, and then on 

 the occasion of a visit to Dr. Horn, announced my intention of working 

 up these genera. Dr. Horn kindly showed me his material, and opened 

 box after box to my astonished vision, quietly discussing the charac- 

 ters requiring study, and the literature that must be consulted. Need- 

 less to say that when I left Dr. Horn's collection I was thoroughly cured 

 of my ambition, at least so far as Bembidium and Laehnosterna were 

 concerned. Thereafter I contented myself with accumulating material. 



Recently, in the Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 

 xiv, pp. 209-29G, Dr. Horn has redeemed a long-standing promise, and 

 given us a revision of the species of Laehnosterna, which has rendered 

 possible an intelligent collection and arrangement of the species. Upon 

 this paper the following notes are based. 



While working on the genus, Dr. Horn visited the Museum, and looked 

 over such of the material as I could gather together at short notice, nam- 

 ing many species, and pointing out their salient characters. He also 

 kindly offered to determine all of our material if sent him. Accoidingly 

 Professor Riley directed me to look out, arrange, and send series of all 

 Proc. N. M. 8S 31 S ^e.yfcg j . 



