WEST INDIAN APHODIINAE — CHAPIN 31 



sparsely sculptured. Pygidial carina with strong median cusp. 

 Metasternum shining, median portion slightly raised, sparsely and 

 very finely punctulate, median groove abruptly terminated both 

 anteriorly and posteriorly. Abdominal sternites coarsely and rather 

 densely punctured at sides, almost free of punctures along middle 

 line of body, basal transverse row of pits on each stemite moderately 

 coarse. Anterior femur with perimarginal groove, surface finely 

 and sparsely punctulate, with a small cluster of coarse punctures near 

 posterior margin near apex. Posterior femur with short groove 

 along posterior margin in apical half, surface sparsely and finely 

 punctulate with a small cluster of coarse punctures near apex; 

 posterior tibia with accessory spine. Length: 4.7-5.5 mm. 



Type. — In collection of H. E. Hinton. Paratypes: U.S.N.M. No. 

 52659. 



Tyfe locality. — Puerto Rico: Caratanga [ = Cartagena] Lagoon. 



Material examined. — Seventy specimens including seven paratypes. 

 The following islands are represented by specimens : Cuba, Jamaica, 

 Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Antigua, Guadeloupe, and 

 Grenada. 



19. ATAENIUS STRIGICAUDA Bates 



Ataenius strigicauda Bates, 1887, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Coleoptera, vol. 2, 

 pt. 2, p. 96, pi. 6, fig. 24.— Arrow, 1903, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, p. 511.— Fall, 

 1930, Journ. New York Ent. Soc, vol. 38, p. 98 (sub floridanus Brown). 



Piceous-black, moderately shining, legs deep castaneous, antennae 

 and trophi paler. Anterior margin of head broadly rounded on each 

 side of the shallow median emargi nation. Front very finely, trans- 

 versely strigillose, upper part (up to line connecting anterior margin 

 of eyes) finely and rather densely punctured, vertex (beyond eye line) 

 much more coarsely punctured. On occasional specimens some coarse 

 punctures are found anterior to this line. Pronotum with marginal 

 setae regularly set along sides and across base, marginal groove com- 

 plete, a little widened toward anterior angles. Surface nearly smooth 

 to very finely alutaceous and with punctures of two sizes: coarse 

 punctures very densely placed laterally becoming very sparse on 

 disk and fine punctures more or less evenly distributed between the 

 coarser punctures over the entire surface. Elytral striae rather deep 

 and fine, with strong indications of strial punctures, intervals sub- 

 convex, becoming more acute near apex, surface nearly smooth to 

 finely alutaceous and each interval with two moderately well defined 

 rows of fine punctures except that the outer three intervals are more 

 coarsely and irregularly sculptured. Lateral margin cariniform, 

 subacute, epipleura rather shining. Pygidial carina with a feeble 

 median cusp. Mesosternum strongly shagreened, intercoxal carina 



