NO. 3568 MELANOTUS — QUATE AND THOIVIPSON 31 



Bradshaw, York Co., July 9, 1917, Amnranlhus, E. J. Yates. Kansas: Douglas 

 Co., J. C. Bridwell; Topeka, Popenoe. Arkansas: Hope, Hempstead Co., 

 May 19, 1931, June 11, 1954, J. W. Green; "Vinita, Ind. T., June 7-8, '99, Wick- 

 ham." Florida: Lake City, Columbia Co., 1933, Wickham. 



It is a pleasure to dedicate this species to M. C. Lane in recognition 

 of his long and diligent studies of the Elateridae that are greatly 

 advancing the taxonomic knowledge of this large family. 



12. Melanotiis pilosus Blatchley 



Figures 5b, 91; Plate Ig 



Melanotus pilosus Blatchley, 1910, p. 751. — Fenton, 1926, p. 502. — Blatchley, 

 1930, p. 35.— Dietrich, 1945, p. 59. 



Male. — Similar to communis, but smaller and more densely covered 

 with whitish or gray vestiture; antenna with erect hairs very dense, 

 segment 3 short, ratio of segments 2:3:4=4:7:12, segment 4 broad, 

 twice as long as wide; frontal margin very thin, upturned and nearly 

 straight on center rather than rounded; pronotal punctures smaller 

 and denser than communis; paramere with short, broad apical blade 

 and deep indentation basad of blade. 



Elytron: 6.9±0.4 mm (6.4-8.0). 24 spec. 



Female. — Similar to male, bm"sa small, with about 30 spines, 

 spines with large bases; spermathecal duct and diverticulum arising 

 separately from bursa; accessory gland far basad of spermathecal 

 duct. 



Elytron: 6.9 mm (6.5-7.2). 



Type.— Holotype: Male, Posey Co., Ind., June 6, 1904, Blatchley 

 (PU). 



Distribution. — Central U.S. 



Arkansas: Washington; May. Illinois: Wabash; June. Indiana: Bar- 

 tholomew; Tippecanoe; June. Iowa: Linn; June. Kansas: Riley, Sedgwick; 

 June. Montana: Big Springs St. Pk.; June. Nebraska: Antelope, Chase, 

 Custer, Keith, Lancaster, Lincoln, Scotts Bluflf; June. Oklahoma: Hayes; July. 



13. Melanotus opacicollis LeConte 



Figures 5d,e, 9j; Plate li 

 Melanotus opacicollis LeConte, 1866, p. 390. — Blatchley, 1910, p. 751. 



Male. — Similar to communis but vestiture of pronotum very dense, 

 velvety, pronotal punctures numerous, dense, and so close together 

 as to appear granulose; frontal margin thin and protruding. Geni- 

 talia with evenly tapering aedeagus, paramere with marked inden- 

 tation below blade, slightly sinuous before center. 



Elytron: 7.2 mm (6.9-7.5). 4 spec. 



Female. — Similar to male. Bursa with 6 to 11 spines, much le^s 

 numerous than communis, spermathecal duct diverticulum branches 

 from spermathecal duct at distance clearly distal of base of duct. 



