68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 121 



selected as lectotype by authors in 1962; second specimen probably 

 not a type, since only one mentioned in original description. 

 Distribution. — Eastern U.S. 



New Jersey: Essex; no dates. New York: Dutchess; May, June. Penn- 

 sylvania: Delaware; June. 



M. taenicollis and leonardi are the only two North American Melano- 

 tus with a contrasting, bicolored pattern and are easily distinguished 

 from other species because of this. The black center of the pronotum 

 and orange on the abdominal venter of taenicollis, as well as the 

 genitalic structures, readily separate it from leonardi. 



The crihricollis Group 



Pronotal punctures large and dense; male paramere short, ends far 

 basad of aedeagus apex. 



45. Melanotus crihricollis Candeze 



Figures 7j, \2l,m; Plate IZ 

 Melanotus crihricollis Candeze, 1860, p. 358. 



Male. — Large, dark reddish species with sparse, short yellowish 

 vestiture. 



Head: Front with marked, anteromedian depression; margin scarcely 

 protruding in front of nasale, angulate and concave in center when 

 viewed from above, also sunken or impressed in center; nasale flat, 

 short, and much wider than high; parantennal fovea shallow (1 spec, 

 with deep fovea), circular, or semicircidar. Mandible with shallow, 

 elongate pit near lower border. Antenna short, fails to reach tip of 

 hind angle by 4-5 segments, segment 3 intermediate in size and shape 

 between 2 and 4; flagellar segments broad and nearly rectangidar, 

 lower angles fulvous; only a few short erect male hairs on base of 

 lower margin, easily overlooked and difficult to distinguish males 

 from females. 



Pronotum wider than long, punctures very large and dense, margins 

 nearly contiguous; sides of pronotum straight behind strong anterior 

 curvature, infrequently with concavity at base of hind angle; hind 

 angles subparaUel, each v/ith strong carina extending to or little 

 cephalad of hind angle base and sometimes with weak, shorter median 

 carina about two-thirds length of larger one. Genitalia as figured; 

 paramere shorter than aedeagus, ending in broad, apical blade. 



Elytron: 7.9 mm (6.5-8.5). 12 spec. 



Female. — Internal genitalia as figured, accessory gland large and 

 spherical, bursa with large, dense patch of spil^elike spines. 



Elytron: 7.9 ±0.5 mm (7.3-9.0). 18 spec. 



Type. — ^Holotype of crihricollis: Female, "Amer. Bor." (BMN). 

 Only specimen in type series. 



