DIAPERINI NORTH OF MEXICO — TRIPLEHORN 437 



light reddish brown, terminal segment of maxillary palpus narrowly 

 triangular, outer margin strongly oblique. Pronotum dark brown 

 or black with apex and basolateral edges gradually lighter; lateral 

 margins arcuate, finely beaded, very strongly converging from base to 

 apex; apex feebly emarginate, base strongly bisinuate; apical angles 

 broadly rounded and deflected, basal angles obtuse; sm'face smooth, 

 very minutely but rather densely punctulate. Elytra dark wath con- 

 siderable portion of apex and sometimes a faint sutural stripe lighter; 

 lateral margins very narrowly margined and beaded ; surface minutely 

 striato-punctulate, intervals fiat, punctm^es extremely minute. Ven- 

 tral surface, including epiplem^a, reddish brown, shining, finely and 

 sparsely punctate with lateral areas of metasternum, plem-al sclerites 

 and ventral surface of pronotum perfectly smooth. Mesosternum 

 (pi. 3, fig. 14) broad, spatulate, finely and rugosely punctate. Male 

 aedeagus with apical sclerite small, much narrower at base than basal 

 sclerite; penis struts fused for a portion of their length and rather 

 heavily sclerotized (pi. 3, fig. 15). Measurements : length 3.7-4.4 mm.; 

 width 2.4-2.5 mm. 



Remarks. — This is the only species of Liodema w^hich has been 

 found in the United States. It is easily the most prosaic member 

 of the genus, distinct among its congeners in its somber coloration. 

 All of the other described species are banded or spotted in various 

 shades of red and yellow. 



Champion (188G, p. 205) records this species from Mexico (Jalapa) 

 and Guatamala (Capetillo), but did not see any examples from the 

 United States. A series of five specimens labelled "Mexico, May, 

 1934" (CU) has been studied, and these were found to differ consid- 

 erably from American specimens in the following respects: They 

 are quite dull in lustre, the punctures of the elytral striae are much 

 larger and more conspicuous, there is no light area at the apex of 

 the elytra, and the apical sclerite of the male aedeagus is relatively 

 shorter. Until further specimens with more detailed data become 

 available, it is best to postpone description of a new species; mean- 

 while, the two Central American localities must be considered of 

 doubtful validity. 



Type.— MCZ 8372. Bears an orange "Southern States" label 

 but according to the description is from "Carolina" (collected by 

 Zimmerman). Most of the ventral surface of the specimen is ob- 

 scured by glue, but the mesosternum and other salient features are 

 quite evident. 



Specimens examined. — From the following localities, 10: 



United States: Florida (Brooksville, Jan. 27, 1940, Crescent City, March 

 27, 1896, H. G. Hubbard). Georgia (Dunwoody (light trap)). North Carolina. 

 Texas. 



