40 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. ii4 



in the number of punctures on the clypeus and frons, with male 

 minors and females usually having several more punctures than is 

 normal for male majors. Usually the punctures and setae are more 

 pronounced in females than in males, particularly on the pronotum 

 and elytra. Sexual differences and the variation in the males have 

 already been noted. Variation in other respects is small. The topo- 

 typic series and the few Mississippi specimens usually have tlie pro- 

 notum sliallowly indented along the posterior portion of the midline. 

 West Florida specimens lack the distinct indentation, but otherwise 

 are similar. 



Type.— USNM 65684. 



Type locality. — ^6 mi. southwest of Stapleton, Ala. 



Specimens examined. — 137. 



Distribution. — (See fig. 5, p. 37.) Holotype, cf , and allotype, 9, 6 

 mi. southwest of Stapleton, Ala., Apr. 19, 1957, Howden and B. 

 Dozier, in gopher tortoise burrow. Also the following paratypes: 



Alabama: 46 cf cf, 55 ? 9 , same data as type. Florida: 9 cf cf , 7 9 9 , near 

 Clarksville, Mar. 21, 1954, H. Howden, in gopher tortoise burrow; 6 d^ cf , 6 9 9 , 

 Funiak [De Funiak Springs?]. Mississippi: 3 cT cf, 3 9 9 , 6.5 mi. south of Luce- 

 dale, Apr. 20, 1957, H. and A. Howden, in gopher tortoise burrow. Paratypes 

 deposited in cnc, usnm, and B. Dozier coll. 



Remarks. — ^Though p. sparsiselosus apparently has habits identical 

 to those of J), polyphemi, it seems advisable to separate the forms for 

 both morphological and geographical reasons. Many species of Scar- 

 abaeidae occur in both northern and western Florida, but for many 

 others species the Apalachicola River and adjacent swamps appear 

 to be at least a partial barrier between the two areas. The genus 

 Mycotrui^es is an example of genera that occur in central and northern 

 Florida but do not extend into western Florida, even though suitable 

 habitats exist (Olsen, Hubbell, Howden, 1954). Other species such 

 as Serica rhypha Dawson and Gronocarus autumnalis Schaeffer extend 

 at least as far eastward as Clarksville, Fla., but have not been recorded 

 east of the Apalacliicola River. 0. p. sparsisetosus is accorded sub- 

 specific status because the dorsal punctures, slightly reduced in size 

 and number, of specimens north (Tillman, S.C) and west (High 

 Springs, Fla.) of Crescent City (type locality) indicate possible 

 intergradation. 



As with typical pohjphemi, the larvae of sparsisetosus are unknown. 

 The adults from western Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi were 

 all collected in the spring (March and April) a short distance inside 

 the entrance of the gopher tortoise burrows. The Alabama series 

 of 103 specimens was taken from a single burrow from 1 to 12 feet 

 inside the entrance. Most of the beetles were in small sandy cells 

 in the sides of the burrows. The few Mississippi specimens were 

 taken on a warm (82°-84°F) cloudy April day. One specimen 



