AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 161 



with the last two of the discal series an equilateral triangle, marginal series 

 small and distantly placed. Scutellum smooth. Elytra slightly narrower than 

 the thorax, conjointly a little longer than wide, surface shining, variably punc- 

 tured, punctures usually coarse and deep and irregularly disposed. Abdomen 

 iridescent, moderately closely but not coarsely punctulate, beneath less densely 

 punctured. Femora sparsely punctulate, posterior tibiae spinulose externally. 

 Length .24— .36 inch; 6—9 mm. 



Sixth ventral segment of male moderately emarginate, anterior tarsi 

 dilated in both sexes but much more broadly in the male. 



Post coxal process moderate, translucent. 



The color is nearly always piceous or black, sometimes the elytra 

 are rufous, the margins of the ventral segments pale and the legs 

 piceo-testaceous. 



There is considerable variation in the punctuation of the elytra 

 which may be described as follows: 



pediculus Nord. — Elytra with three irregular rows of coarse deep punctures 

 between which the surface is often slightly rugulose. In the specimens before 

 me the lateral puncture which forms an equilateral triangle with the last two 

 discals is absent. Two of the specimens before me are from Mannerheim'g 

 series of this species from Kenai, Alaska. 



capucinus Grav. — Elytra with the three series of punctures very irregular 

 and between them numerous smaller punctures. Thorax with the equilateral 

 triangle. 



marginalis Makl. — Elytra rufo-piceous, punctures of nearly equal size, moder- 

 ately large and regularly disposed. Thorax with equilateral triangle. One of 

 the specimens before me is from Mannerheim. 



Erichson says of pedicKhis that the elytra are irregularly biseriately 

 punctate, evidently taking no account of an obsolete series between 

 the sutural series and the one which starts at the humerus. I can 

 find no valid reason for accepting pediculus or maryinalis as valid 

 species, the series now before me rendering it impossible to sepa- 

 rate them. 



This species occurs from Alaska southward to California, and in 

 the Atlantic region to Georgia. 



Q. desertus n. sp. — Form slender, elongate. Head oval, slightly longer 

 than wide with punctures as in limbifer. Labrum bilobed. Eyes oval slightly 

 oblique, truncate in front. Autennse attaining the middle of the thorax, 

 slightly thicker externally, last joint longer and obliquely emarginate. Thorax 

 as long as wide, sides feebly, base more broadly arcuate, surface smooth and 

 shining and with three discal punctures, no lateral series, marginal punctures 

 small and distant. Scutellum punctured. Elytra as wide as the thorax, con- 

 jointly as wide as long, surface densely and finely punctured and with brownish 

 pubescence. Abdomen very finely and moderately densely punctured and 

 pubescent, beneath finely and sparsely punctured. Femora sparsely punctured, 

 tibise externally spinulose. Length .32 — .44 inch; 8 — 11 mm. 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. SOC. VII. (21) NOVEMBER, 1878. 



