74 J. B. SMITH. 



most collections this family is represented only by a few of the more 

 common species — often not at all. The genus Mordellistena is divided 

 into groups according to the number of tibial ridges, and the groups are 

 subdivided according to the tarsal ridges, until finally color separates the 

 species of the subdivisions where there is more than one species therein. 



In a very few instances there exist besides the set of well marked ridges, 

 imperfect or rudimentary ridges, and these rudiments in at least one 

 case create doubt ; M. aspersa and M. morula are separated only by the 

 number of ridges on the posterior tibia ; aspersa having two, and morula 

 three ; but aspersa occasionally has a rudimentary ridge, and this rudi- 

 ment became in one instance so strong that I was really in doubt whether 

 the insect was morula or aspersa ; among the undoubted morula form 

 I could find mine which seemed to present a weak third ridge, while I 

 managed to fill the gap between my specimen and the true aspersa by 

 intermediate forms and so placed it with the latter ; the question now is 

 whether diligent collecting in the home of morula would not show that 

 it and aspersa intergrade, and what effect that would have on the large 

 proportion of species based on ridges alone ! Until I can get a much 

 greater amount of material this question cannot be absolutely determined, 

 and meanwhile the genera and species may be distinguished as follows : 



MORDELLID.E. 



A. — Abdomen without anal prolongation ; claws not cleft; hind femora moderate. 



ANASPINI. 

 Anterior and middle tarsi with fourth joint equal to third. 



Antennae long; scarcely thickened externally Diclidia. 



Antennae shorter; last five joints broader Pentaria. 



Anterior and middle tarsi with fourth joint very small Vnaspis. 



B. — Abdomen with the last segment prolonged, conical, claws cleft and pectinate, hind 



femora very large v MORDELLINI. 



Hind tibia with a small subapical ridge ; eyes finely granulated. 



Scutel usually emarginate behind; anal style short, obtuse Tomoxiii. 



Scutel triangular; anal style long and slender.. Mordella. 



Hind tibia and tarsi with oblique ridges on the outer face; eyes coarsely 

 granulated. 



Hind tibia without subapical ridge Glipodes. 



Hind tibia with subapical ridge distinct Mordellistena. 



ANASPINI. 

 Hind femora not, or but slightly dilated ; tibia slender, claws not cleft 

 nor serrate ; last dorsal segment not prolonged ; sixth ventral segment 

 not visible in Anaspis ; visible in Pentaria and Diclidia ; eyes oval. 

 narrowly emarginate ; antennae inserted very near the eyes, not serrate. 

 Body transversely strigate, pubescent. Species found on plants. 



